Israeli minister: no to a Palestinian state

Israeli minister Yoav Gallant declared Sunday his opposition to a Palestinian state and support for the annexation of the occupied West Bank, reported The Jerusalem Post.

The Aliya and Integration Minister was speaking during a visit to West Bank settlements Beit Aryeh, Neve Tzuf, Eli and Shiloh. All settlements are considered illegal under international law.

“I am clearly saying no, to a Palestinian state. It is not possible to have more than one state west of the Jordan River”, Gallant declared.

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“We will work to apply sovereignty in all of Judea and Samaria [the occupied West Bank] and to strengthen the settlements”, Gallant continued, using a phrase often used to refer to annexation.

“Settlements are the only key to holding onto sovereignty and Zionism”, he added. “Settlements are the new Zionism of the 21st Century”.

Gallant also described Israeli settlements in the West Bank as “the eastern security belt for the State of Israel”.

In his previous role as Housing Minister, Gallant was a strong practical supporter of the settlements.