Netanyahu’s office denies report he could okay US recognition of Palestinian state

Citing a source familiar with the details, Israel Hayom reports that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is weighing a “de facto” agreement with the US to recognize a Palestinian state in exchange for normalization with Saudi Arabia.

According to the report, the US would unilaterally recognize a state, and Israel would object that a permanent agreement will only come about through direct negotiations, thus creating an opening for talks leading to a Palestinian state.

The source points to Netanyahu’s delayed reaction to a Washington Post report that the US is weighing recognition of a Palestinian state as evidence that the prime minister is resigned to working with the US on its emerging grand vision for the region.

The Prime Minister’s Office puts out a statement denying the Israel Hayom report, calling it “fake news.”