Netanyahu vows to block Palestinian state as polls show shortfall

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Saturday vowed to prevent the establishment of a Palestinian state in Gaza or the occupied West Bank for the duration of his tenure, declaring that no territory would be ceded to Iranian influence. The remarks came as opinion polls show his Likud party and its coalition partners falling short of the 61 seats required to form a government after Oct. 27 elections.

Hardline vow on statehood

Speaking at a political event, Netanyahu rejected calls for Palestinian statehood and directly addressed recent comments by Mansour Abbas, leader of the United Arab List. "As long as I am prime minister, there will be no Palestinian state controlled by Iran, neither in Gaza nor in Judea and Samaria," he said, employing the biblical designation for the occupied West Bank — terminology favored by Israeli settlers and right-wing politicians.

Arab leader's rebuttal

Abbas had earlier urged Israel and the United States to recognize Palestinian statehood during his party's general conference in the Arab city of Tayibe. "The State of Palestine exists, and the world recognizes it," he said, noting that his party seeks peace between the two nations.

Parliamentary arithmetic

Netanyahu's comments come as surveys indicate his Likud party and its far-right and ultra-Orthodox allies may struggle to secure a majority in the 120-seat Knesset. A Channel 13 poll published Aug. 19 projected the coalition at 51 seats — 10 short of the threshold — while a separate survey Friday placed Likud at just 20 seats, down sharply from its current 32.

Knesset elections are scheduled for Oct. 27. Likud currently holds 32 seats in the 120-member parliament, though recent surveys suggest the party could fall to 20.