Netanyahu was re-elected as head of the right-wing Likud Party last week, overcoming his first hurdle toward winning a fourth term in office in March's general election. | Photo: Reuters
Published 7 January 2015
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Israel's incumbent prime minister has doubled down on his hardline rhetoric against Palestinians ahead of elections in March.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed Wednesday to maintain his country's illegal settlements in the West Bank.
Speaking to Israel's Channel 2, Netanyahu said not a single settlement would be removed from the map if he is re-elected in March.
“I don’t see such a move as being practical at this point. Since I’m in charge it won’t happen,” he said.
Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank and Golan Heights are considered violations of international law by the United Nations, and remain the largest hurdle for a permanent peace settlement by the Palestinian Authority.
The Israeli government officially recognizes over 100 settlements, with an estimated population of just under 400,000.
Critics argue the settlements undermine the ability of Palestinians to form a cohesive state, though Netanyahu claimed that he remains open to Palestinian statehood.
“The Palestinians have emptied (calls for statehood) of any relevance,” he stated, claiming the Palestinian Authority is undermining chances for a settlement for demanding Israeli troops face war crime charges.
“Instead of negotiating they are going to the International (Criminal) Court (ICC) in The Hague, charging (Israeli Defense Force) soldiers with war crimes,” said Netanyahu.
U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon announced Tuesday that the Palestinian Authority would officially join the ICC in April – paving the way for Palestinians to bring long-standing allegations of war crimes against Israel before the court.
Along with allegations the Israel Defense Forces violated Palestinian human rights during its military offensive against Gaza in 2014, the Palestinian Authority is also expected to broach allegations that Israel's settlements are war crimes.
Netanyahu's hardline comments come as Israel's campaign season heats up ahead of elections scheduled for March 17.
The early elections were called this month by Netanyahu, after he accused a handful of ministers of refusing to work with his government. However, on the second day of campaigning Netanyahu was hit by allegations that almost all of his campaign funds come from a small group of U.S. donors.
Buzzfeed's Sheera Frankel cited figures from Israel's state comptroller indicating 90 percent of Netanyahu's US$250,000 campaign war chest is comprised of contributions from U.S. supporters “with a majority of the money coming from just a handful of families in California and Florida.”
An anonymous campaign adviser told Frankel, “(Netanyahu) doesn’t even have to ask and they give,” adding that “their pocketbooks are always open for Netanyahu.”