Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has slammed Australia’s advocacy for Palestinian statehood as “disappointing” and “shameful”, as he doubled down on his plan to eventually take control of the Gaza Strip.
In a wide-ranging press conference in Jerusalem “to puncture the lies and tell the truth” about Israeli military and its delivery of humanitarian aid in the besieged territory, Mr Netanyahu described foreign leaders’ intention to recognise Palestine as “absurdity”.
“It defies imagination or understanding how intelligent people around the world, including seasoned diplomats, government leaders, and respected journalists, fall for this absurdity,” the Prime Minister said, insisting such a move “won’t bring peace, it will bring war”.
“To have European countries and Australia to march into that rabbit hole … and buy this canard, it is disappointing. And I think it’s actually shameful.”
