what has Netanyahu said about Palestinian state

Benjamin Netanyahu has repeatedly rejected a fully sovereign Palestinian state, especially in recent statements from 2024–2025, while sometimes saying Palestinians could govern themselves only with Israel retaining security control. He has also said a Palestinian state would be a security threat, a “platform to destroy Israel,” and that Israel’s opposition to Palestinian statehood is “firm and unchanged”.

What he has said

• He has said there will be no Palestinian state under his watch or on territory west of the Jordan River.

• In January 2024, he said he opposed establishing a Palestinian state after the Gaza war and insisted Israel must keep security control over land west of the Jordan River.

• In July 2025, he said he wanted peace, but described any future Palestinian state as a danger unless Israel kept security authority.

• In November 2025, he again said opposition to Palestinian statehood had “not changed one bit”.

The recurring theme

His position has usually had two parts:

1. He rejects full Palestinian sovereignty.
2. He says any future arrangement must leave Israel in control of security.

How to read it

Netanyahu’s comments show a long-running hard line rather than a one-time shift. At moments, he has used softer language about Palestinians governing themselves, but he has consistently drawn the line at an independent state with real sovereignty.

Recent context

Recent reporting ties his statements to the Gaza war, the post-October 7 security debate, and pressure from both international leaders and his own right-wing coalition. He has also argued that recognizing Palestinian statehood would reward Hamas or create another hostile enclave.

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