JERUSALEM: Israel cautioned four European countries on Monday that their plan to work toward recognizing a Palestinian state was a “prize for terrorism” that would undermine the possibilities of a diplomatic settlement to the neighborly issue.
Spain announced on Friday that, in the cause of Middle East peace, it had reached an agreement with Ireland, Malta, and Slovenia to take the first steps toward acknowledging Palestinian statehood in the Israeli-occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip.
“Recognition of a Palestinian state following the October 7 massacre sends a message to Hamas and the other Palestinian terrorist organisations that murderous terror attacks on Israelis will be reciprocated with political gestures to the Palestinians,” Israel Katz, the country’s foreign minister, said on X.
