Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed Wednesday evening that negotiations are underway with Syria, stressing that their success depends on safeguarding Israel's interests. These include, among other things, the demilitarization of southwestern Syria and ensuring the safety and security of the Druze community there.
Against the backdrop of speeches at the UN General Assembly in New York, where several world leaders expressed recognition of a Palestinian state, Netanyahu declared: "The disgraceful capitulation of some leaders to Palestinian terrorism will not bind Israel in any way. A Palestinian state will not be established."
Netanyahu is scheduled to depart for the UN at 3:30 a.m. local time. His speech on Friday is claimed to be "creative" and will include a response to French President Emmanuel Macron and other leaders who have endorsed recognition of a Palestinian state.
However, the prime minister and his delegation are focusing primarily on Netanyahu's meeting with US President Donald Trump, set for Monday. With reports that the Trump administration is preparing a plan to end the war in Gaza, that meeting is expected to be decisive.
