Meaning: The quote you provided is a statement made by Benjamin Netanyahu, the former Prime Minister of Israel, regarding the status of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. This statement reflects the Israeli government's firm stance on the issue of Jerusalem, which has been a point of contention in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict for many decades.

In December 2017, U.S. President Donald Trump officially recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and announced plans to move the American embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. This decision was met with both praise and condemnation from various world leaders and organizations. Netanyahu's statement reinforces Israel's position on Jerusalem and directly contradicts the claims made by Palestinian leaders, including the late Yasser Arafat, who sought to establish East Jerusalem as the capital of a future Palestinian state.

Jerusalem holds great religious, historical, and cultural significance for both Israelis and Palestinians. For Jews, Jerusalem is revered as the holiest city in Judaism, home to the Western Wall, the last remnant of the Second Temple, and the Temple Mount, the site of the ancient Jewish temples. For Muslims, Jerusalem is the third holiest city in Islam, housing the Dome of the Rock and the Al-Aqsa Mosque, which are believed to be the locations of important events in Islamic tradition.

The status of Jerusalem has been a major point of contention in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, with both Israelis and Palestinians claiming the city as their capital. The international community has largely refrained from recognizing Jerusalem as Israel's capital, pending a final status agreement between the two parties. The United Nations has consistently maintained that the status of Jerusalem should be determined through negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians.

Netanyahu's statement reflects the longstanding Israeli position that Jerusalem is the eternal and indivisible capital of Israel. This stance is deeply rooted in the historical and religious connection that Israelis feel towards Jerusalem, and it has been a fundamental aspect of Israeli national identity since the establishment of the state in 1948.

However, the Palestinian leadership and much of the international community view East Jerusalem as the capital of a future Palestinian state. The Oslo Accords, signed in the 1990s, envisioned a final status agreement that would include the establishment of a Palestinian capital in East Jerusalem. The international community, including the European Union, has consistently supported the idea of East Jerusalem serving as the capital of a future Palestinian state.

The issue of Jerusalem remains a major obstacle to the resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Both Israelis and Palestinians hold deeply entrenched and conflicting claims to the city, and its status has been a central point of contention in peace negotiations. The competing narratives and emotional attachment to Jerusalem make it a highly sensitive and complex issue that has defied resolution for decades.

In conclusion, Benjamin Netanyahu's statement encapsulates Israel's unyielding position on Jerusalem as its eternal and indivisible capital. This stance reflects the deep historical and religious connection that Israelis feel towards Jerusalem. However, the issue of Jerusalem remains a deeply divisive and contentious aspect of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and its status continues to be a major obstacle to achieving a lasting peace agreement in the region.