Abbas Seeks Recognition of Palestinian State, Netanyahu Opposes

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said that as long as he remains in power, he will not allow a Palestinian state to be established in Gaza or the occupied West Bank. He claimed that no Palestinian state under Iranian control would be established while he remains prime minister.

Netanyahu made the remarks on Saturday (August 22), ahead of Israel’s parliamentary election scheduled for October 27. He was responding to comments by Mansour Abbas, leader of the United Arab List.

Earlier, at a party conference in Taibe, Mansour Abbas said Palestine already exists as a state and has been recognized by most countries around the world. He also called on Israel and the United States to recognize Palestine as a state.

Ahead of the election, opinion polls show Netanyahu’s Likud Party and its coalition partners are falling short of the 61 seats needed to form a government. Likud currently holds 32 seats in the Knesset. However, a recent poll forecast that the party could see its seats fall to 20.

A Channel 13 poll published on August 19 projected that Likud and its right-wing and ultra-conservative coalition partners could secure a combined 51 seats.

Zubayer/Mi.