Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz said on Wednesday it had ordered an immediate recall of its ambassadors to Ireland, Spain, and Norway in response to those nations' decisions to recognize a Palestinian state.
The prime ministers of Norway, Ireland, and Spain announced this morning that they will officially recognize a Palestinian state starting next Tuesday, May 28.
Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre said this morning: "We must keep alive the only alternative that allows the two sides to coexist peacefully, side by side. Recognition of a Palestinian state means bolstering the moderate forces that are losing strength as a result of the outburst of violence."
"A two-state solution is the only path to sustainable peace for both Israel and Palestine. At this critical juncture, our recognition comes to support the advancement of a comprehensive plan for regional peace," said Norwegian Foreign Minister Anniken Huitfeldt.
Katz said the decision to recognize a Palestinian state undermined Israel's right to self-defense and efforts to return the 128 hostages being held by Hamas in Gaza. "Israel will not be silent. We are determined to achieve our goals: restoring security to our citizens and the removal of Hamas and the return of the hostages. There are no more righteous goals than these," Katz said. He attacked the decision, saying, "The distorted step by these countries is an injustice to the memory of the October 7 victims. It provides a tailwind to Hamas' jihadists and Iran, distances the prospect of peace."
I issued a severe Démarche for the ambassadors of Spain, Ireland, and Norway in Israel following their governments' decision to award a gold medal to Hamas terrorists who kidnapped our daughters and burned infants.
During the Démarche, the ambassadors will watch a video of the… pic.twitter.com/hWDPLinJV7
— ישראל כ"ץ Israel Katz (@Israel_katz) May 22, 2024
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich relayed "A decision will be approved tomorrow in the cabinet meeting to establish a new settlement in response to any country that unilaterally recognizes a Palestinian state." He added that he instructed the settlement administration to prepare a draft resolution for three strategic settlements, and demanded that a decision be approved as early as tomorrow.He will also bring before the cabinet a proposal to cancel a Norwegian deal – which stipulates that Norway would hold Israeli funds owed to the Palestinian Authority – that was approved by the cabinet several months ago. "Norway was the first to unilaterally recognize a Palestinian state today, and it cannot be a partner in anything related to Judea and Samaria. I intend to cease transferring funds to Norway and demand the return of all funds that have been transferred," he stated.
Symbolically recognizing a phantom Palestinian state that doesn't meet the most basic requirements of statehood will change nothing on the ground.
Not a single Palestinian will be freer and not a single Israeli will be safer.
It will, however, send the message that terror pays.
— Avi Mayer אבי מאיר (@AviMayer) May 22, 2024
Opposition leader Yair Lapid called the decision "disgraceful." Former Jerusalem Post Editor-in-Chief Avi Mayer wrote in a post on X, that recognizing "statehood will change nothing on the ground. Not a single Palestinian will be freer and not a single Israeli will be safer. It will, however, send the message that terror pays." Similarly, former Israeli government spokesperson Eylon Levy wrote, "It is telling terrorists who burned Jewish families to ash on October 7: your tactics work."
Ireland was neutral during the Holocaust and signed the book of condolences after Hitler's suicide.
Nearly 80 years later, it is telling terrorists who burned Jewish families to ash on October 7: your tactics work. Keep going. https://t.co/qUKft2vSj9
— Eylon Levy (@EylonALevy) May 22, 2024
The Israeli Peace Now movement responded, "A Palestinian state is a matter of time, and it is better for Israel to initiate the move rather than be dragged into it."
