Washington: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the decision by Australia and others to recognise a Palestinian state told terrorists that “murdering Jews pays off”, as he accused western leaders of buckling to media pressure and antisemitism.

In a blistering speech to the United Nations in New York, Netanyahu said giving Palestinians a state a mile from Jerusalem after the October 7, 2023 massacre was akin to giving Al-Qaeda a state a mile from New York City after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.

“This is sheer madness, it’s insane, and we won’t do it,” he said. “Israel will not allow you to shove a terrorist state down our throats. We will not commit national suicide because you don’t have the guts to face down a hostile media and antisemitic mobs demanding Israel’

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