Occupied Jerusalem–Israel’s foreign minister said Sunday a peace deal with the Palestinians is impossible under current conditions while an Israeli cabinet minister said with talks stalled, the “entire world” could recognize a Palestinian state within a year.
Avigdor Lieberman, the Israeli foreign minister, told a conference of Israeli diplomats that instead of a full peace deal, Israel should seek a long-term, interim agreement on security and economic matters. Palestinians have consistently rejected that approach.
“It’s not only that it is impossible” to reach an overall agreement, he said. “It is simply forbidden.” Lieberman said the West Bank Palestinian Authority–with whom Israel has pledged to negotiate–is “not legitimate” because it has postponed elections.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas remains in office though his term expired almost a year ago, and there is no date for a new election.
A statement from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said Lieberman’s comments reflect “his personal positions,” not those of the government.
Peace talks between Israel and the Palestinian Authority broke down in September after an Israeli freeze on settlement construction expired.
The Palestinians say they will not negotiate as long as Israel builds homes for Jews in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem, lands the Palestinians claim for a future state. US mediators have returned to indirect talks to seek a way out of the impasse.
Palestinian Authority spokesman Ghassan Khatib rejected Lieberman’s comments, saying most world governments–including Israel’s–recognize the Palestinian Authority as legitimate. He said the Palestinians would not accept an interim agreement.
“It’s too late now for anything except ending the occupation and allowing for two states on the ‘67 borders,” he said, referring to 1949 truce lines that marked the West Bank until the 1967 war, when Israel captured the territory.
Israeli Cabinet Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer said Sunday that if peace talks fail, “the whole world” is likely to recognize a sovereign Palestinian state–a development Israel would not welcome.
“Within a year, we will find ourselves in a situation where the whole world–and I wouldn’t be surprised if even the United States–would support a Palestinian state,” he said.
The comments from Ben-Eliezer come after Ecuador formally recognized Palestine as an independent state Friday, following the lead of other South American countries.
Brazil, Argentina and Bolivia gave formal recognition earlier this month while Uruguay said it will do so early in the new year.
“We must do all everything possible to renew talks with the Palestinians, even if it means a settlement freeze for a few months,” Ben-Eliezer said.
