Jerusalem: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to prevent the establishment of a Palestinian state in Gaza or the occupied West Bank for as long as he remains in office. His remarks came in response to Mansour Abbas, leader of the United Arab List, who said Palestine already exists as a state and is recognised by most of the world.

According to TRTworld.com, Abbas urged Israel and the US to acknowledge Palestine as well. "As long as I am prime minister, there will be no Palestinian state controlled by Iran," Netanyahu stated emphatically. These declarations come amidst a backdrop of political maneuvering and upcoming elections.

Mansour Abbas, speaking at his party's general conference in the Arab city of Tayibe earlier on Saturday, expressed his party's quest for peace between Israel and Palestine. "The State of Palestine exists, and the world recognises it," Abbas asserted, urging both Washington and Tel Aviv to offer their recognition.

Netanyahu's remarks, which are seen as a strategic positioning ahead of the Knesset elections scheduled for October 27, reflect the current political climate. Opinion polls indicate that his Likud party and its coalition partners are falling short of the 61 seats required to form a government. Currently holding 32 seats, Likud has seen a significant drop in recent surveys, with a poll on Friday estimating it at 20 seats.

A Channel 13 poll published on August 19 projected Netanyahu's Likud and its far-right and ultra-Orthodox allies at a combined 51 seats, which is 10 short of a parliamentary majority. This political scenario underscores the challenges Netanyahu faces in maintaining his position and political influence in Israel.