Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said that Israel will never cede territory to the Palestinians whilst he remains in power.
Netanyahu said “any evacuated territory would fall into the hands of Islamic extremism and terror organizations supported by Iran. Therefore, there will be no concessions and no withdrawals. It is simply irrelevant.”
Time.com reports:
The statement was released by his Likud party Sunday. Netanyahu is seeking to appeal to hard-liners ahead of elections next week.
Party spokesman Elie Bennett says Netanyahu’s 2009 speech calling for a Palestinian state alongside Israel is not currently relevant.
The international community has long pushed for the creation of a Palestinian state on lands captured by Israel in the 1967 Mideast war.
Netanyahu’s spokesman declined comment.