Israel Rejects Recognition Of Palestinian State: Damaging Opportunities For Peaceful Solutions

JAKARTA - Israel rejected the recognition of the Palestinian State announced by a number of countries on Sunday, saying it undermined peaceful opportunities, benefited Hamas and blamed the Palestinian Authority.

Britain, Canada, Australia, and Portugal announced their recognition of the Palestinian State, expressed concern about the situation in the Gaza Strip and pushed for a peaceful solution to the two countries.

Israel "firmly rejects" the recognition of the Palestinian state by Britain "and several other countries," the Foreign Ministry said.

The declaration of official recognition by Britain, Canada, and Australia "increases to shake the region and undermine the chances of achieving peaceful solutions in the future," the relevant ministry X said, quoted by The Times of Israel.

Israel said its recognition "not only gave tribute to the biggest massacre of Jews since the Holocaust by terror organizations calling on and acting for the destruction of Israel, but also strengthened the support Hamas enjoys."

The ministry further said the state should remain an issue of final status and should not be separated from peace, adding that the Palestinian Authority has not stopped incitement, rewarding terrorists, or fighting terror adequately.

"Palestinian authorities are part of the problem and are not part of the solution," the Israeli Foreign Ministry said.

"Israel will not receive separate and imaginary texts trying to force it to accept a border that cannot be maintained," the ministry promised.

"Political requirements aimed at domestic voters only harm the Middle East and do not help. On the other hand, if the countries that signed this declaration really want to stabilize the area, they should focus on pressuring Hamas to release the hostages and immediately strip their weapons," he said.