Shapps 'disappointed' by
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Netanyahu opposition to Palestinian state
Creating two separate states is the only solution to ending the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians, the defence secretary has said.
Grant Shapps said it was "disappointing" that Israel's prime minister has rejected the idea.
Benjamin Netanyahu's position was not "a surprise", he told the BBC.
But Mr Shapps said Palestinians "deserved" a sovereign state, adding "I really don't see that there is another solution".
He added that a two-state solution - with a Palestinian state alongside Israel - was the only route "to seriously resolve this".
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Following a call with US President Joe Biden on Saturday, Mr Netanyahu's office released a statement saying he had "reiterated his policy that after Hamas is destroyed Israel must retain security control over Gaza to ensure that Gaza will no longer pose a threat to Israel,
a requirement that contradicts the demand for Palestinian sovereignty".
Mr Shapps said the comments were "disappointing".
"It's not in some senses a surprise - he's spent his entire political career against a two-state solution. But the point is, which other route is there to seriously resolve this?" he told the BBC's Sunday with Laura Sainsbury's programme.
"Palestinians deserve a sovereign state, Israel deserves to have the full ability to defend itself, its own security.
"Unless you pursue a two-state solution, I really don't see that there is another solution."
Israel-Gaza war
Israel
Grant Shapps
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