Israel will not be a binational state, says Netanyahu

US Secretary of State John Kerry has angered Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu by suggesting that a “one-state solution” was not an option for Israel.

Kerry urged both Israeli and Palestinian leaders to recommit to the concept of a negotiated two-state solution in order to give both peoples, but particularly the Palestinians, hope that a resolution to the long-running conflict is at least possible.

“Are Israelis prepared for the consequences this would have for their children and grandchildren who serve in the (Israel Defence Forces)?” he questioned.

He said that Israel would have to shoulder some of responsibility, such as providing basic services in the West Bank, if the Palestinian Authority collapsed.

Israeli forces killed more than 100 Palestinians since the violence started in September, while Palestinians killed 19 Israelis. “Israel has the right to defend itself, to ensure its safety”, she said.

Wallstrom last month raised ire in Israel when she seemed to imply that there was a connection between Palestinian attacks and their “desperate situation”.

“If there is a risk the Palestinian Authority might collapse and Israel wants it to survive, shouldn’t Israel do more to help sustain it?” “Unfortunately, this is not what we are seeing”.

“I condemn the statements, the scandalous statements, made by the foreign minister of Sweden”, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told his cabinet in broadcast remarks. He admitted to being frustrated by this and made clear in his speech to the Saban Forum that the USA remains committed to the two-state solution.

“It is important that it doesn’t become a slogan, a throw-away phrase, that it becomes a policy, which is what it is meant to be”, said the secretary of state.

Netanyahu slammed the comments, calling the accusations “outrageous” and adding that Israelis will “not offer their necks to those who wish to stab them” and adding Israeli authorities will “continue to protect Israeli lives”.

Swedish Foreign Minister Margot Wallstrom blamed Israel for conducting “extrajudicial executions” of Palestinians.

“The response must not be of the kind – and this is what I say in other situations where the response is such that it results in extra-judicial executions, or is disproportionate in that the number of people killed on that side exceeds the original number of deaths many times over”, she said.

“The one-state solution is no solution at all for a secure, Jewish, democratic Israel living in peace”.

“Would millions of Palestinians be given basic rights of Israeli citizens, including the right to vote?”