Prime Minister Naftali Bennett was interviewed by the New York Times, just before the flight to the United States and the meeting with US President Joe Biden, stressing that his government "will not annex or establish a Palestinian state."
Towards the summit with US President Biden: Prime Minister Bennett landed in Washington // Photo: Itai Beit-On / GPO
"I am the prime minister of all Israelis, and what I am doing now is finding the middle ground - how can we focus on what we agree on," he said.
He said there would be no political negotiations, in part because the Palestinian leadership is broken from within.
"Israel will continue with the standard policy of natural growth," he said, adding that his government would expand construction in Judea and Samaria.
Bennett declined to comment on US pressure to re-establish a Palestinian consulate in Jerusalem.
According to him, "Jerusalem is the capital of Israel and not the capital of other peoples."
Regarding the security situation after the escalation in the south, Bennett stated that he was ready to continue the fight against Hamas, even if the RAM opposed the move. He stated: "I will do what is necessary to protect my people.
I will never involve political considerations in security-related decisions. "
PM Bennett on Soldier's Injury: "We will consider who is harming our fighters, prepared for any scenario" // Photo: Itai Beit On / GPO, Sound: Nir Sharaf / GPO
The prime minister reiterated that a return to the nuclear deal would be a mistake and that he would present to Biden a "new strategic vision" for Tehran, under which a axis of resistance would be built around Arab countries refusing to cooperate with Iranian policy.
