Netanyahu: Palestinian Statehood Bid ‘Doomed’

US Will Foil Palestine, PM Assures

Speaking today at the beginning of his cabinet meeting, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sought to reassure his nation that Palestine, a would-be nation that aims to be created out of the occupied territories, is doomed to failure.

As a result of the actions of the United States, which is working close with us, and of other governments with which we and the Americans are working, I predict this attempt will fail,” insisted Netanyahu, who expressed hope that the Palestinians would “come to their senses” and abandon statehood after Friday’s vote.

Israeli media were reporting that Netanyahu was attempting to come up with a “compromise” deal that would give the Palestinians something short of statehood, but that these attempts failed.

Obama Administration officials have vowed to oppose Palestinian statehood at all costs, and would veto it if the measure came before the UN Security Council. At the same time, the notion of an independent Palestine has broad support globally and in a General Assembly vote is expected to pass by a wide margin.

Author: Jason Ditz

Jason Ditz is Senior Editor for Antiwar.com. He has 20 years of experience in foreign policy research and his work has appeared in The American Conservative, Responsible Statecraft, Forbes, Toronto Star, Minneapolis Star-Tribune, Providence Journal, Washington Times, and the Detroit Free Press.