Israeli political figures from both the government and the opposition on Sunday condemned the decision by the UK, Australia, and Canada to recognize a Palestinian state, calling the move a reward for terrorism and a threat to Israel’s security.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his allies pledged to respond to the move, and doubled down on their opposition to the idea of a Palestinian state, with several in his coalition pushing for West Bank annexation as a response.
Leaders of the opposition — while echoing the premier’s arguments against the step — blamed the premier for not preventing the “diplomatic disaster.”
In making their announcements Sunday, the UK, Australia, and Canada each argued that recognizing a State of Palestine would sideline the Hamas terror group, with which Israel is at war in Gaza, and advance long-term peace between Israel and the Palestinians.
But Netanyahu, in a Hebrew-language video statement, charged: “I have a clear message to those leaders who recognize a Palestinian state after the horrific massacre on October 7 — you are handing a huge reward to terror.”
The premier added: “It will not happen. A Palestinian state will not be established west of the Jordan.”
Netanyahu boasted that under his leadership, Israel “doubled Jewish settlement in Judea and Samaria — and we will continue on this course,” using a biblical term for the West Bank.
“The response to the recent attempt to force a terrorist state upon us in the heart of our land will be given after my return from the United States,” said Netanyahu, who is set to depart for the US later this week to speak at the UN before meeting with US President Donald Trump. “Wait.”
President Isaac Herzog also condemned the diplomatic decision, saying it “will only embolden the forces of darkness.”
“After the atrocities of October 7, while Hamas continues its campaign of terror, and while it continues to cruelly hold 48 hostages in the tunnels and dungeons of Gaza, the recognition of a Palestinian state by some nations today is, not surprisingly, cheered by Hamas,” he wrote on X.
“It will not help one Palestinian,” Herzog continued. “It won’t help free one hostage, and it will not help us reach any settlement between Israelis and Palestinians. It will only embolden the forces of darkness. This is a sad day for those who seek true peace.”
Far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir announced that he will propose annexing the West Bank, as a response to the Western nations’ move, declaring in a statement: “The recognition by the UK, Canada, and Australia of a ‘Palestinian’ state as a prize for the murderous [Hamas] terrorists, requires immediate countermeasures.”
Ben Gvir called for “the immediate application of sovereignty in Judea and Samaria, and the complete dismantling of the ‘Palestinian’ Authority.” He also announced his plans “to submit a proposal for the application of sovereignty at the upcoming cabinet meeting.”
Ben Gvir was echoed by his Otzma Yehudit party’s Yitzhak Wasserlauf, who heads the Negev, Galilee, and National Resilience Ministry.
“The Land of Israel belongs exclusively to the people of Israel – there is no Palestinian people and no Palestinian state,” Wasserlauf declared.
Likud Transportation Minister Miri Regev tweeted on Sunday evening: “Sovereignty now! The land of Israel is ours, now and forever.” Economy Minister Nir Barkat, considered a more moderate member of the ruling party, wrote on X that Israel’s response should include “the application of sovereignty over Judea and Samaria.”
Netanyahu’s office has in recent days sought to ease the pressure of advancing West Bank annexation by quietly briefing select Likud lawmakers and ministers, The Times of Israel has learned.
On Sunday, i24 News reported that the briefings urged participants not to press publicly for “sovereignty now,” with the PMO warning that “it causes damage, the prime minister said he knows when and how to act.”
The briefings were not given to the entire Likud faction, the report added, and appear to have had little effect, as seen by a number of public statements from party lawmakers on Sunday.
Despite the Western countries’ insistence that recognizing a Palestinian state would sideline, rather than embolden, Hamas, a senior official from the terror group hailed the move, describing it as a victory for the rights of Palestinians.
“These developments represent a victory for Palestinian rights and the justice of our cause, and send a clear message: no matter how far the occupation goes in its crimes, it will never be able to erase our national rights,” Mahmud Mardawi told AFP.
The Palestinian Authority, meanwhile, welcomed the move, calling it a necessary step toward peace.
PA Foreign Minister Varsen Aghabekian Shahin called the recognitions “historic,” telling reporters in Ramallah. “It is a move bringing us closer to sovereignty and independence. It might not end the war tomorrow, but it’s a move forward, which we need to build on and amplify.”
PA President Mahmoud Abbas issued a statement praising Britain’s recognition, and “affirming that it constitutes an important and necessary step toward achieving a just and lasting peace in accordance with international legitimacy.”
Opposition Leader Yair Lapid condemned the statehood recognitions, but blamed Netanyahu’s government, asserting that a competent Israeli leadership would have prevented the development.
“The unilateral recognition of a Palestinian state by Britain, Australia, and Canada is a diplomatic disaster, a harmful step, and a reward for terror,” Lapid said in a statement.
“A functioning Israeli government could have prevented this through smart and serious work, professional diplomatic dialogue, and proper public diplomacy. The government that brought upon us the worst security disaster in our history is now also bringing upon us the most severe diplomatic crisis ever.”
Blue and White-National Unity chairman Benny Gantz echoed Lapid’s comments, declaring in a statement that recognizing a Palestinian state after the October 7 attack “ultimately only emboldens Hamas, extends the war, distances the prospects of a hostage deal, and sends a clear message of support to Iran and its proxies.”
“If advancing peace & stability in the Middle East is what you seek, dear Western Leaders – and not buckling to domestic political pressure, then maximum pressure must be applied to Hamas to relinquish power and return the hostages before anything else,” the centrist politician posted on X, in English, following the Western countries’ announcements.
The Democrats chairman Yair Golan called the statehood recognitions destructive” and “extremely damaging” to Israel, adding that while he had long supported a two-state solution to Israel’s conflict with the Palestinians, now was not the time to move forward with a Palestinian state.
“After October 7 and Hamas’s heinous attack, talking about a Palestinian state is destructive,” Golan said in an interview with 103FM radio. “We should now be talking about a process centered on separation, with security responsibility in Israel’s hands, a significant and thorough period during which Israel ensures that the other side is capable of upholding a future agreement.”
“I spoke with the French Foreign Ministry and tried to explain how harmful this is to the issues they want to promote, including solving the Palestinian problem,” Golan added. France has been leading the campaign for countries to recognize a Palestinian state, and will, together with Saudi Arabia, lead meetings on a two-state solution at the UN this week.
Golan, like the other opposition leaders, blamed the recognition on the policies of Netanyahu’s government, accusing the premier of “ignoring the world” and “creating a modern Sparta,” referring to highly criticized remarks Netanyahu made last week in which he admitted that Israel was facing increasing isolation.
“If we had managed this correctly, it could have been handled in a way that protects Israel and avoids unnecessary risks to national security,” said Golan.
He added, at the same time, that annexing Gaza and its Palestinian population, as has been floated by the current government, is impossible: “No country in the world is ready, willing, or interested in absorbing two million Palestinians.”
Arab parties and peace organizations condemned Golan’s statements, and, endorsing Palestinian statehood, declared themselves the only remaining representatives of Israel’s left.
Arab-Jewish party Hadash said the Democrats “have become Likud prior to its partnership with Kahanists” — referring to Netanyahu’s party, and followers of an extremist, anti-Arab ideology, respectively.
Hadash insisted that peace and shared prosperity can only come through the establishment of an independent Palestinian state alongside Israel.
“I have great respect for Yair Golan on many of his positions, but on this issue I am in complete disagreement,” said Hadash-Ta’al chairman Ayman Odeh.
“Why ‘separation’ and not a peace agreement? Another unilateral disengagement? The only way is full recognition of the national rights of both peoples, including their right to self-determination.”
Hadash MK Aida Touma-Sliman said Golan’s remarks show “there is no ‘left’ left in the Knesset beyond Hadash.
“Precisely when many of Golan’s own supporters back the establishment of a Palestinian state and the advancement of peace, he himself lacks the vision and leadership to clearly declare the only path to end occupation, oppression, and destruction,” Touma-Sliman said.
Peace Partnership, a coalition of Israeli and Palestinian groups, said that Golan’s comments “illustrate exactly the root of the problem: denial of the Palestinian people’s right to independence and freedom does not bring security – it deepens the conflict.”
Nava Freiberg and Times of Israel staff contributed to this report.