- Jan 16, 2012
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Ireland will recognize a Palestinian state before the end of this month, Irish Foreign Minister Micheal Martin said on Wednesday.
Martin’s comment came on the same day that the Israeli government derided a separate push in the United Nations to back a Palestinian bid to become a full UN member.
European Union members including Ireland, Spain, Slovenia, and Malta, had planned to officially recognize a Palestinian state next Tuesday, according to the EU’s foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell. However, the Irish foreign minister said in a new interview that the exact date is still being discussed.
Israel has warned European countries that unilateral recognition of a Palestinian state in the West Bank and Gaza Strip would effectively amount to a “reward for terrorism” that would reduce the chances of a negotiated resolution to the conflict — a point echoed by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday.
“We will not reward the terrible massacre of Oct. 7, which 80 percent of the Palestinians support, both in Gaza and the West Bank,” Netanyahu said in a statement, referencing Palestinian polling that has shown widespread support for Hamas’ atrocities. “We will not allow them to establish a terrorist state from which they will be able to vigorously attack us.”
He added, “Nobody will prevent us, prevent Israel, from realizing our basic right to self-defense — not the UN General Assembly or any other body. We will stand together with our head held high to defend our country.”
www.algemeiner.com
Martin’s comment came on the same day that the Israeli government derided a separate push in the United Nations to back a Palestinian bid to become a full UN member.
European Union members including Ireland, Spain, Slovenia, and Malta, had planned to officially recognize a Palestinian state next Tuesday, according to the EU’s foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell. However, the Irish foreign minister said in a new interview that the exact date is still being discussed.
Israel has warned European countries that unilateral recognition of a Palestinian state in the West Bank and Gaza Strip would effectively amount to a “reward for terrorism” that would reduce the chances of a negotiated resolution to the conflict — a point echoed by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday.
“We will not reward the terrible massacre of Oct. 7, which 80 percent of the Palestinians support, both in Gaza and the West Bank,” Netanyahu said in a statement, referencing Palestinian polling that has shown widespread support for Hamas’ atrocities. “We will not allow them to establish a terrorist state from which they will be able to vigorously attack us.”
He added, “Nobody will prevent us, prevent Israel, from realizing our basic right to self-defense — not the UN General Assembly or any other body. We will stand together with our head held high to defend our country.”
Ireland to Recognize ‘Palestine’ by End of May as Israel Resolves to Block Establishment of ‘Terrorist State’ - Algemeiner.com
Ireland will recognize a Palestinian state before the end of this month, Irish Foreign Minister Micheal Martin said on Wednesday. Martin's comment came on the same day that the Israeli government derided a separate push in the United Nations to back a Palestinian bid to become a full UN member...
www.algemeiner.com
