Netanyahu: Recognizing Palestine ‘Rewards Terrorism’

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has launched a sharp criticism of British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and other Western leaders, accusing them of “rewarding terrorism” by pushing to recognize a Palestinian state.

In a public statement delivered Tuesday, Netanyahu said that granting statehood to Palestinians, especially now, in the wake of the October 7 Hamas attacks, sends the wrong message to the world.

“If you recognize a Palestinian state after the worst terror attack in Israel’s history, you’re not promoting peace, you’re rewarding murder,” Netanyahu said. “You’re telling terrorists: if you kill enough people, the world will give you what you want.”

His comments come as the UK, Spain, Ireland, and other European countries prepare to formally recognize Palestine as a sovereign state, a move they say is meant to revive peace efforts and support a two-state solution.

But Netanyahu sees it differently.

He argued that recognizing Palestine now, while Hamas still holds Israeli hostages and refuses to lay down its arms, only encourages more violence. “You don’t make peace by giving prizes to those who use terror as a strategy,” he added.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who took office just weeks ago, has said recognizing Palestine is “the right thing to do” and part of a long-term plan to bring stability to the region. He insists it’s not a punishment for Israel, nor a reward for Hamas, but a step toward fairness and diplomacy.

Still, Netanyahu isn’t convinced.

He warned that if Western countries go ahead with recognition, it could weaken Israel’s position and make future peace talks harder, not easier. “Peace must be earned through negotiation, not handed out after bloodshed,” he said.

The debate is heating up at a sensitive time. Israel is still at war with Hamas in Gaza. Over 100 hostages remain missing. And millions of Palestinians are living in desperate conditions amid the fighting.

Supporters of Palestinian statehood say it’s long overdue and that delaying it only fuels frustration and violence. Critics, like Netanyahu, say timing matters, and right now, they believe recognition plays into the hands of extremists.

As the UK and others move forward with their plans, Netanyahu’s message is clear: Don’t call it peace if it feels like surrender.