Jerusalem: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu denounced leaders who had recognized a Palestinian state, as he headed to the United States on Thursday for White House talks and an address to the UN General Assembly. His remarks came three days after France led a special summit on the sidelines of the General Assembly, which saw a slew of Western governments recognize the State of Palestine against the backdrop of the nearly two-year Gaza war. Netanyahu is due to address the assembly on Friday.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to retaliate against the decision by France and several other countries. The issue has generated rare consensus among Israel's…

Israel has rejected the idea of a Palestinian state, despite a growing number of Western nations declaring their recognition in response to the destruction of Gaza.