“There will be no Palestinian state” — Netanyahu’s threat in Ma’ale Adumim

International Desk | PNN

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday signed a major expansion plan in a disputed settlement area in the West Bank. If implemented, the new project could make the formation of an independent Palestinian state practically impossible, raising concerns in the international community.

In Ma’ale Adumim, located east of Jerusalem, Netanyahu said, “We are going to fulfill our commitment. There will be no Palestinian state. This land is ours.” He also stated that the city’s population is planned to be doubled.

A plan has been proposed to build 3,400 new housing units in a 12-square-kilometer area known as “E1”. If this project is implemented, the geographic link between the West Bank and East Jerusalem would be severed, and the expansion of Israeli settlements would become even more entrenched.

According to international law, all Israeli settlements built in the West Bank after 1967 are considered illegal, but Tel Aviv continues to ignore this position.

Meanwhile, Palestinian Authority spokesperson Nabil Abu Rudeina stated firmly that establishing a Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital remains the only solution for peace in the Middle East. In his words, “A two-state solution is inevitable, no matter the obstacles.”

Regional observers say Netanyahu’s move has further jeopardized the long-standing peace process.