By John Zurcher
September 22, 2025
In a dramatic escalation of diplomatic friction, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a blistering condemnation of the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia on Sunday, vowing that “there will be no Palestinian state” following their formal recognition of Palestinian statehood. The coordinated move by the three nations—longtime allies of Israel—marks a seismic shift in Western foreign policy, coming amid the relentless Israeli military campaign in Gaza that has claimed over 65,000 lives and displaced nearly the entire population of the enclave. Netanyahu’s stark warning, delivered in a video statement from his office, accused the leaders of “rewarding terrorism with an enormous prize,” referencing the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks that ignited the current war.
The Israeli leader’s rhetoric was unyielding: “I have a clear message to those leaders who are recognizing a Palestinian state after the horrendous October 7 massacre: You are rewarding terror with an enormous prize. And I have another message for you: It’s not going to happen. There will be no Palestinian state to the west of the Jordan River.” He further boasted of thwarting Palestinian statehood efforts for years, despite domestic and international pressure, and pledged to accelerate Jewish settlements in Judea and Samaria—the biblical names for the occupied West Bank. This expansion, critics argue, undermines any viable two-state solution by fragmenting Palestinian territory.
Netanyahu’s outburst reflects Israel’s broader strategy amid mounting global isolation. As Israeli forces intensify bombardments in Gaza City and expand buffer zones in Syria, the recognition by Western powers signals a growing chorus of frustration with Jerusalem’s refusal to pursue peace talks. Portuguese Prime Minister Paulo Rangel joined the fray hours later, affirming his country’s recognition as a “fundamental line of foreign policy” aimed at a “just and lasting peace.” France, Belgium, Luxembourg, Malta, and possibly New Zealand and Liechtenstein are poised to follow suit at the United Nations General Assembly this week, where President Mahmoud Abbas hailed the moves as a “necessary step toward justice.”
The announcements were carefully timed on the eve of the UNGA, where leaders will convene to address the Israel-Hamas conflict. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer framed the decision as a bulwark against despair: “In the face of the growing horrors in the Middle East, we are acting to keep alive the possibility of peace and a two-state solution.” He emphasized that Hamas, which he called a “brutal terror organization,” would have “no role” in Palestinian governance, and pledged further sanctions on its leaders. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney echoed this, offering “partnership in building the promise of a peaceful future” while committing to Palestinian Authority reforms, including elections in 2026 excluding Hamas and demilitarization.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, speaking to ANW, described the recognition as part of a “coordinated effort to build new momentum for a two-state solution,” including an immediate Gaza ceasefire and hostage releases. Yet, these gestures are largely symbolic—Palestine remains divided between the West Bank and Gaza, with no internationally recognized capital, and Israeli settlements continue to proliferate. Over 147 UN member states already recognize Palestine, but the involvement of G7 heavyweights like the UK and Canada (with France imminent) amplifies the pressure on Israel and its staunchest backer, the United States.
U.S. President Donald Trump, who has historically opposed unilateral recognition, offered no immediate comment, though his administration has prioritized Israel’s security. Netanyahu, fresh from U.S. talks, promised a “response” upon his return, hinting at diplomatic countermeasures at the UN. Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid, however, turned the blame inward, lambasting Netanyahu’s government for engineering Israel’s “worst security and political crisis in history.” Far-right Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir called the recognitions a “reward for murderers,” while Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana branded Starmer a “modern-day appeaser.”
This diplomatic earthquake unfolds against a backdrop of profound human tragedy in Gaza, where tent camps in Khan Younis house displaced families amid famine and rubble-strewn streets. Palestinian officials decry the recognitions as insufficient without halting “genocide and ethnic cleansing,” urging practical measures to affirm rights on the ground. For Israel, the moves threaten to embolden Hamas and erode the Jewish state’s bargaining power, especially as settlement construction doubles in the West Bank.
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