Israel Prime Minister Says Country Is "At War" (W/ Palestine)

The formal recognition of Palestinian statehood by a number of countries in recent days has provoked anger and alarm from Israeli officials, raising fears among Palestinians about how Israel’s government might respond.

Itamar Ben-Gvir, Israel’s far-right national security minister, saidon Monday night that the moves demanded “immediate countermeasures,” including the annexation of the Israeli-occupied West Bank.

Mr. Ben-Gvir said he would submit a proposal to Israel’s cabinet for applying “sovereignty” in the West Bank in the coming days. He also threatened “the complete crushing” of the Palestinian Authority, which administers parts of the territory.

On Monday, a number of countries, including France, formally announced they would recognize Palestinian statehood at a summit in New York before the United Nations General Assembly. More than 150 countries now recognize a Palestinian state.

 


Departing for NYC, PM says he’ll use UNGA speech to denounce world leaders who recognized Palestine​

By JACOB MAGID
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his wife Sara pose for a photo before departing Ben Gurion Airport to New York on September 25, 2025. (Avi Ohayon/GPO)
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his wife Sara pose for a photo before departing Ben Gurion Airport to New York on September 25, 2025. (Avi Ohayon/GPO)
Before boarding his plane to New York, Prime Minister Benjamin tells reporters that he plans to denounce world leaders who recognized a Palestinian state this week during his speech before the UN General Assembly on Friday.

“At the UN General Assembly, I will speak our truth — the truth about the citizens of Israel, the truth about our IDF soldiers and the truth about our country,” Netanyahu says on the Ben Gurion Airport tarmac.

“I will denounce those leaders who, instead of denouncing the murderers, rapists, and child burners, want to give them a state in the heart of the Land of Israel. This will not happen,” the premier asserts.

“In Washington, I will meet for the fourth time with [US] President [Donald] Trump and discuss with him the great opportunities that our victories have brought, and also our need to complete the goals of the war: returning all of our hostages, defeating Hamas and expanding the circle of peace that has opened up following the historic victory in ‘Operation Rising Lion’ (against Iran) and other victories that we have achieved,” Netanyahu continues.

He will meet with Trump in the White House on Monday.
 
President Trump said on Thursday that he would not allow Israel to annex the Israeli-occupied West Bank, after assuring leaders of Arab and Muslim-majority nations of his stance on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly.

“I will not allow Israel to annex the West Bank,” he said in the Oval Office. He added: “There’s been enough. It’s time to stop now.”

Mr. Trump’s remarks came on the eve of a speech by Israel’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, at the General Assembly, where several countries declared their recognition of a Palestinian statethis week.

Israeli officials have recently suggested that their government could annex at least part of the West Bank in retaliation for decisions by nations like Britain, Canada and France recognizing Palestinian statehood.
 
President Trump on Monday cast his plan for a cease-fire in Gaza as a landmark deal to bring peace after two years of catastrophic violence. But in reality, it was more like an ultimatum to Hamas.

Standing alongside Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel, Mr. Trump unveiled a proposal to which both men had agreed. If Hamas refuses to do the same, Mr. Trump said, the United States will let Israel “do what you would have to do.”

“Israel would have my full backing to finish the job of destroying the threat of Hamas,” said Mr. Trump, who under the plan would become the temporary chairman of a board in charge of the redevelopment of Gaza.

The joint appearance by Mr. Trump and Mr. Netanyahu at the White House was a clear display of unity at a moment when Mr. Trump has shown signs of frustration with the Israeli prime minister, and when much of the world has grown horrified at Israel’s prosecution of the war against Hamas in Gaza, which has killed tens of thousands of Palestinians.

But it was far from assured that Hamas would agree to their demands.

The U.S. plan contains provisions that Hamas has said publicly it will not accept, such as its removal from power and disarmament, leaving the proposal’s future uncertain and increasing the possibility that Israel will intensify its military campaign in the enclave, with the full support of the United States.
 
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