Israel undermines chances of establishing our state, says Palestinian PM
21 Mar 2022 11:29am
Palestinian workers exit the Hamas-controlled part of the Beit Hanoun crossing towards the Palestinian Authority-controlled part as they travel into Israel through Beit Hanoun - Erez border crossing in the northern Gaza Strip, 20 March 2022. Israeli authorities said that an additional 2,000 Gazans will be allowed into Israel to work this month, bringing the total permits to 12,000 from late last year. - EPA Photo
The reality on the ground is gradually deteriorating, and the two-state solution will not be achieved through negotiations "because the Israeli government doesn't want to," said Ishtaye during a meeting with Singaporean Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan in the West Bank city of Ramallah, according to an official statement.
Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett announced earlier that his government would not hold any talks with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian Authority or any Palestinian official.
"The Israeli government put on its agenda no talks with President Abbas, no peace negotiations and no Palestinian state," said Ishtaye, calling on Singapore to recognise the Palestinian state.
Direct peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians, which were sponsored by the United States for nine months, stopped in 2014 following deep differences on issues related to Jewish settlements and the recognition of a Palestinian state on the 1967 borders. - BERNAMA
