Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar on Sunday denounced the growing international push to recognise Palestinian statehood, calling it a “tremendous mistake” that could destabilise the region and force Israel into unilateral action.
Speaking at a joint press conference with Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen, Saar argued that recognition outside a negotiated framework would undermine peace efforts and embolden militant groups.
“Those states like France and the UK that pushed the so-called recognition of a Palestinian state made a tremendous mistake. You cannot disconnect statehood from peace. Doing so will only make peace harder to achieve,” Saar said.
His remarks come as several European nations — including France, the UK, and Belgium — pledged to officially recognise Palestine during this month’s UN General Assembly, while others such as Australia, Canada, and Portugal have voiced support for similar steps.
Saar cautioned that unilateral recognition would be seen as “a present for Hamas,” linking it to the group’s October 7, 2023 attacks that killed 1,200 people and sparked the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
“A peace agreement can only happen bilaterally. Any other approach will destabilise the region and push Israel to make unilateral decisions, which would be a grave mistake,” he stressed.
The Israeli Foreign Minister urged European leaders to reconsider their positions before the UNGA session. “We still have time to prevent this mistake,” he said.
French President Emmanuel Macron recently announced that France, alongside Saudi Arabia, will co-chair a high-profile conference on the Two-State Solution in New York on September 22, aimed at rallying international support for peace.
