"Israel faces attacks from Hamas and other terrorist organizations, and we are subject to a diplomatic attack led by the Palestinian Authority which seeks to strip us of our right to defend ourselves and take away our legitimacy to exist. We are holding off both these attacks at the same time," the prime minister said.
Netanyahu added that Israel will continue responding to any attacks by Hamas "accordingly and with strength," and urged the international community to reject the initiative on establishment of a Palestinian state.
The resolution, drafted by the Palestinian Authority and submitted to the UN Security Council on Wednesday, stipulates that Israel should end the occupation of the Palestinian land in 12 months after the document is adopted. Also on Wednesday, the European Parliament passed a resolution backing a two-state solution of the Israeli-Arab conflict.
The Hamas movement, in control of the Gaza strip, routinely exchanges strikes with Israel. In the summer, Israel launched Operation Protective Edge against the Hamas forces in Gaza, which killed over 2,000 Palestinians, and 71 Israelis, according to the United Nations. Israel and Hamas later signed an open-ended ceasefire agreement.
On Wednesday, the European General Court excluded Hamas from its list of terrorist organizations.
