Netanyahu is furious with many of Israel's historic allies, but his options for response are limited

Benjamin Netanyahu was quick to denounce the recognition of a Palestinian state by many of Israel's historic allies, but may be struggling to decide how to turn rhetoric into a concrete response.

- Emma Graham-Harrison

The Israeli prime minister's options are perhaps more constrained than he would have his supporters believe. He has variously threatened annexation of occupied Palestinian land and bilateral actions against countries that have joined the tide of recognition.

But laying formal claim to part or all of the West Bank would jeopardise the Abraham accords, the historic agreement that normalised ties with regional powers including the United Arab Emirates.

That deal was perhaps the most high-profile foreign policy achievement of Donald Trump's first presidency, cited in nominations for the Nobel peace prize he openly covets, and one of Netanyahu's own landmark achievements.

The UAE, one of the most important partners, has already said annexation is a "red line", and the deal's collapse would carry a high risk of alienating Netanyahu's single most important supporter.

Israel chose a bilateral response to Ireland, Norway and Spain when they recognised a Palestinian state last year, including withdrawing ambassadors.

Doing the same thing now, when so many important allies have followed suit, would be far more complicated - and could harm Israel far more than its targets, former Israeli diplomats said.