Israeli envoy says Jerusalem rejects Palestinian state plan being presented by Macron at UN

Speaking to reporters outside the UN General Assembly shortly before the start of the two-state solution conference co-hosted by France and Saudi Arabia, Israeli Ambassador to the UN Danny Danon says Jerusalem opposes the framework.

“Before October 7, there was a debate about that in Israel. After October 7, it’s off the table,” Danon says. “Now we are focused on bringing [back] the hostages, on defeating Hamas.”

“When the day will come that there will be a general Palestinian leadership that will condemn terrorism… we will speak with the Palestinians,” he adds, repeating a claim that the Palestinian Authority pays stipends to terrorists, even though PA President Mahmoud Abbas signed a decree ending the policy in February.

“We have to be honest that there is no partner on the other side.”

“We are a peaceful nation. We signed multiple peace accords and hopefully, we will sign more accords in the near future,” Danon says.

“This [conference] is a show, but what we are doing on the ground [in Gaza City] — that’s for real,” the Israeli envoy continues.

Danon calls the Western recognition of a Palestinian state a “unilateral action” that will provoke an Israeli response — one that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will announce in the coming days.

Danon confirms that Israel has been engaged in talks with Syria, adding that Jerusalem will be following Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa’s Wednesday speech at the UN General Assembly and that Netanyahu will also address the issue.