Watch FIFA World Cup 2026™

LIVE, FREE and EXCLUSIVE

Israel PM must cooperate: Abbas

Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas says he expects the new Israeli government to recognise the two-state solution.

Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas will work with any Israeli government that accepts the principle of a two-state solution, his spokesman says.

The statement comes after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu won a shock re-election victory.

"It doesn't matter to us who the next prime minister of Israel is, what we expect from this government is to recognise the two-state solution," Nabil Abu Rudeina said in a statement on Wednesday.

"On this basis, we will continue to cooperate with any Israeli government that is committed to international resolutions," he said, adding that without such a commitment, any future peace negotiations would have "no chance".

On Monday, just hours before election campaigning formally closed, Netanyahu ruled out the establishment of a Palestinian state if re-elected, effectively reneging on his 2009 endorsement of a two-state solution.

News that makes sense

Your trusted source for staying up-to-date with the world around you. Get free daily news updates and analysis, straight to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

He also pledged to build thousands of homes for Jewish settlers in annexed Arab east Jerusalem to prevent any territorial concessions that would lead to the establishment there of a Palestinian capital.

Speaking to public radio on Wednesday, Netanyahu confidant Tzahi HaNegbi said that if the Palestinian Authority "changed its attitude" it would find "Likud's hand held out to resume dialogue".

He also denied that Netanyahu had ruled out the creation of a Palestinian state.


2 min read

Published

Updated

Source: AAP



Share this with family and friends


Get SBS News straight to your inbox

Sign up now for daily news from Australia and around the world. You can also subscribe to Insight's weekly newsletter for in-depth features and first-person stories.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Follow SBS News

Download our apps

Listen to our podcasts

Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service

Stream now

Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world