Recognizing Palestinian State Could Trigger ‘Unilateral’ Response: Israeli FM
Israel’s Foreign Minister described some countries’ push to recognize Palestinian statehood as a “mistake”, warning that such moves could trigger an unspecified unilateral response, according to AFP.
These remarks came after France, Britain, Australia, Malta and other Western countries pledged to recognize a Palestinian state on the sidelines of the 80th UN General Assembly this month.
“States like France and the UK that pushed the so-called recognition had made a tremendous mistake,” Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said at a joint press conference with his visiting Danish counterpart Lars Lokke Rasmussen.
Israel & France Relations
The relations between France and Israel have deteriorated since Macron revealed his plan to formally recognize a Palestinian state during the UN meeting.
“Israel strives for good relations with France, but France must respect the Israeli position when it comes to issues essential to its security and future,” Saar said.
Moreover, Saar said that his country would never accept French President Emmanuel Macron’s visit as long as France plans to recognize the Palestinian State, according to Arab News.
Saar also told France’s top diplomat Jean-Noel Barrot in a phone call that “there is no room” for a presidential visit “as long as France persists in its initiative and efforts that harm Israel’s interests.”
Annexation of West Bank
Saar’s remarks come after Israel approved a slew of new West Bank settlements, including a major project located at east of Jerusalem known as E1.
Israel’s Far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said on Wednesday that he was currently drawing up maps for the annexation of the occupied West Bank, according to Reuters.
He also noted that his objective is to bring “maximum territory and minimum (Palestinian) population” under Israeli sovereignty, calling on Netanyahu to accept his plan that is being drawn up by a department under Smotrich’s supervision in the Defense Ministry.
“The time has come to apply Israeli sovereignty to Judea and Samaria, to remove once and for all from the agenda the idea of dividing our tiny land and establishing a terror state in its center,” Smotrich said.
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