Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared on September 21st, 2025, that Israel will not permit the establishment of a Palestinian state, stating it would be a "huge award to terrorism" in the wake of the October 7th massacre. "There will be no Palestinian state west of Jordan," Netanyahu stated in a cabinet meeting, reinforcing his administration's commitment to expanding Jewish settlements in Judea and Samaria. He directed his message to leaders familiar with the concept of a Palestinian state, asserting that the "latest attempt to impose a terrorist state in the heart of our country will be given after the United States." These remarks from Netanyahu come as the United Kingdom confirmed its recognition of the State of Palestine on September 21st, 2025, an action Prime Minister Keir Starmer stated was intended to revive hope for a two-state solution. Starmer also reportedly "commend[ed] the important commitments" made on reform by the "man currently in the 19th year of his 4-year Presidential term," according to a social media post by Daniel Sugarman. Meanwhile, an incident occurred in the occupied West Bank village of Al Nabi Saleh, northwest of Ramallah, where an Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) soldier reportedly fired a tear gas canister into a minibus carrying children. The act, described as occurring "for no reason at all other than boredom & deep hatred," resulted in several children requiring hospitalization, as reported by dlLambo on X. Amidst these diplomatic and security developments, French President Emmanuel Macron and the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia are scheduled to co-chair a conference in New York on Monday. This conference aims to mobilize international efforts toward peace, building on the "New York Declaration on the two-state solution." The UK's recognition of Palestine follows earlier reports of similar moves by Canada. Previous reports indicated ongoing Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) operations in Gaza, including the interception of rockets by the Iron Dome system. The Allenby Bridge crossing to Jordan was closed for passenger traffic following a deadly attack. Egypt also announced border security measures in the Sinai Peninsula.
