Israel: Palestinian statehood can only come from negotiations
While Palestinians welcome symbolic British parliament vote in favor of recognition of Palestine, Israel says it 'sends a troubling message to the Palestinian leadership that they can evade the tough choices that both sides have to make.'
The PLO welcomed the British parliament's symbolic vote in favor of recognizing a Palestinian state, while Israel said the motion "undermines the chances to reach a real peace."
"The route to Palestinian statehood runs through the negotiation room," a statement from the Israeli Embassy in London said.
"Premature international recognition sends a troubling message to the Palestinian leadership that they can evade the tough choices that both sides have to make, and actually undermines the chances to reach a real peace," the statement went on to say.
"Recognition of a Palestinian state should be the result of a successful conclusion of direct peace talks between Israel and the Palestinian Authority," the statement concluded.
Palestinian legislator Hanan Ashrawi said the vote was sending the right message both the British government and to the rest of Europe and could boost voices in the continent calling for the recognition of Palestine.
"This is a significant step towards justice and peace," she said.
“Our right to self-determination has never been up to negotiations. The recognition of Palestine is not contingent upon on the outcome of negotiations with Israel and certainly not something we will trade for; this claim is not only unfair, but immoral," she said.
