New York [US], January 22: UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres reiterated his call for a two-state solution as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu again rejected the notion of a sovereign Palestinian state.
"The right of the Palestinian people to build their own state must be recognized by all," Guterres said on Saturday in Kampala at a meeting of non-aligned states - nations that remained neutral during the Cold War.
"The refusal to accept the two-state solution for Israelis and Palestinians, and the denial of the right to statehood for the Palestinian people, are unacceptable."
Guterres went on to say that the denial of a two-state solution was prolonging a conflict that had become a global threat to peace and security, contributing to polarization and strengthening extremism everywhere.
He also renewed calls for an immediate ceasefire in the battle between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
Netanyahu continues to reject the notion of an independent Palestinian state once the Gaza conflict is over.
"I will not compromise on full Israeli security control over the entire area west of Jordan - and this is contrary to a Palestinian state," he said on Saturday, reiterating his stance that any solution in the foreseeable future must include Israel's military control over the entire West Bank.
The United States, an important Israel ally, has also been pushing for a two-state solution.
Netanyahu has repeated his opposition to an independent Palestinian state, saying his country needed full security control over the Palestinian territories, rebuffing United States President Joe Biden's stance on the issue.
"I will not compromise on full Israeli security control over the entire area in the west of Jordan - and this is contrary to a Palestinian state," Netanyahu posted on X late on Saturday night, doubling down his opposition to a Palestinian state a day after speaking to the US president, who has offered unconditional support to Israel in its war on Gaza Strip, in a phone call.
Biden on Friday said he spoke with Netanyahu about possible solutions for the creation of an independent Palestinian state, suggesting one path could involve a non-militarised government.
Biden's call with Netanyahu was the first in nearly a month, the White House said. Asked if a two-state solution was "impossible" while Netanyahu was in office, Biden said, "No, it's not." But in a statement, the Israeli prime minister's office said Netanyahu told Biden that "after Hamas is destroyed Israel must retain security control over Gaza to ensure that Gaza will no longer pose a threat to Israel, a requirement that contradicts the demand for Palestinian sovereignty".
He expressed his opposition to any Palestinian state multiple times since launching the war on Gaza deferring to the Biden administration's stance on the issue. The UK said on Sunday that Netanyahu's opposition to Palestinian sovereignty is "disappointing".
"I think it's disappointing actually, to hear that from the Israeli prime minister," said Defence Secretary Grant Shapps on the Sky News channel.
Source: Qatar Tribune