Benjamin Netanyahu on Two State Solution
TL;DR
Benjamin Netanyahu vehemently opposes the establishment of a Palestinian state, viewing it as an existential security threat to Israel.
Key Points
He stated in September 2025 that there will be no Palestinian state, asserting this position even at the cost of normalization with Saudi Arabia.
In 2001, he was caught on video boasting that he had de facto put an end to the Oslo Accords, which were intended to lead to a Palestinian state.
He has declared that any future Palestinian state would be a platform for Israel's destruction unless fanaticism is destroyed and Israel retains full security control (October 2025).
Summary
Benjamin Netanyahu has long maintained a categorical opposition to the establishment of a Palestinian state, a position he has publicly reiterated across numerous occasions. He asserts that such a state, particularly one with sovereign military power, would be an existential threat designed to destroy Israel. For him, the conflict is fundamentally about the existence of the Jewish state rather than merely the absence of a Palestinian state. His actions, including the massive expansion of Israeli settlements on occupied Palestinian land, are seen as directly undermining the territorial basis required for a viable two-state outcome.
His stance has evolved from actively working to undermine the Oslo Accords in the 1990s, which he once boasted he effectively ended, to his current explicit rejection of Palestinian statehood even if it jeopardizes normalization agreements with regional powers. While he may suggest a willingness to discuss autonomy for Palestinians, he insists that ultimate security control must remain with Israel, fearing that any independent entity would fall to radical elements like Hamas or be controlled by Iran. This firm opposition continues despite significant international pressure advocating for a two-state resolution.
Key Quotes
“There will not be a Palestinian state. It's very simple: it will not be established,”
Frequently Asked Questions
Benjamin Netanyahu currently maintains a strong and explicit opposition to the establishment of a Palestinian state. He argues that such a state would pose an existential security threat to Israel, especially if it possessed sovereign military powers. He contends that the primary issue is the existence of the Jewish state, not the absence of a Palestinian one.
No, his position has evolved, though he has a long history of actions against it. He actively worked to undermine the Oslo Accords in the 1990s and has since boasted about ending them. While he previously suggested autonomy might be possible, his contemporary stance is a categorical rejection of full Palestinian statehood.
Following the October 7 events, Benjamin Netanyahu reiterated his opposition, stating he would oppose the creation of a Palestinian state in any post-war scenario. He framed the necessity of destroying fanaticism as a prerequisite, insisting that Israel must retain ultimate security control over any future governance in Gaza.
Sources6
Benjamin Netanyahu: Putting “An End to the Oslo Accords” & the Two-State Solution
Israel's Netanyahu says 'there will be no Palestinian state'
Netanyahu: 'There will not be a Palestinian state,' even at cost of ties with Saudis
Netanyahu says Israel giving "peace a chance," but no Palestinian state without "destroying fanaticism"
Why Benjamin Netanyahu Rejects Palestinian Statehood
Two-state solution - Wikipedia
* This is not an exhaustive list of sources.