Britain’s Defence Secretary, Grant Shapps, stated that the United Kingdom does not align with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s stance that an independent Palestinian state is unattainable. His comments set a tone for how London views the regional peace process and the implications for UK policy going forward.
Shapps stressed Britain’s concern with Netanyahu’s position, which questions the feasibility of resolving the long-standing conflict through the creation of a Palestinian state. The statement comes amid a broader debate on how Western powers should approach a two-state framework and the obligations of both sides under international law.
“A two-state solution remains a central reference point for addressing the conflict,” the minister remarked. “There are divergent perspectives on how best to achieve stability in the region, but there is a common understanding that Israel has the right to defend itself and a responsibility to comply with international law.” These remarks were offered in the context of ongoing international discussions about security, sovereignty, and the aspirations of Palestinian statehood. (Source attribution: British government briefing, as reported by multiple outlets)
Earlier, Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammed Shtayyeh argued that Netanyahu’s approach would prevent a peaceful settlement of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. He asserted that successive Israeli governments have repeatedly claimed a willingness to pursue a two-state solution, yet have taken steps he says effectively blocked the establishment of a Palestinian state within the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem served as its capital. The Palestinian leadership has maintained that without concrete moves toward a viable, sovereign state, prospects for lasting peace remain only theoretical. (Source attribution: Palestinian leadership press briefings, as reported by international media)
In related remarks from prior weeks, Netanyahu indicated a determination to maintain military operations in Gaza as a means to secure what his government envisions as strategic goals, signaling that the campaign would continue until those objectives were achieved. Observers note that such stances complicate efforts for a negotiated settlement and have profound humanitarian and political ramifications for civilians on the ground, as well as for regional stability. (Source attribution: regional security analysts, contemporary news summaries)