Washington, DC, May 23 :
US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan stated on Wednesday that US President Joe Biden thinks the two-state solution should be achieved through direct negotiations rather than a "unilateral recognition" following the announcements of the Palestinian state by the leaders of Norway, Ireland, and Spain.
"Each country is entitled to make its own determinations, but the US position on this is clear," Sullivan said at a news briefing when asked if the US is concerned about other nations acknowledging a Palestinian state. President Biden has publicly stated his support for a two-state solution, as I mentioned before. He has consistently maintained the principled stance that direct negotiations between the parties, rather than unilateral recognition, are the best way to achieve a two-state solution. After informing our global partners of this, we will wait to see what happens, he said.
According to Sullivan, the decision by Israel to withhold payments from the Palestinian authority is 'wrong.' This action destabilises the West Bank and hinders the Palestinian people's pursuit of security and development.
His opinion on the US's decision to withhold funding from the Palestinian authority in retaliation to Israel's recognition of Palestinian statehood was that it destabilises the West Bank, which he deemed inappropriate from a strategic standpoint. It is unfair to withhold money that give essential products and services to innocent people, and it undermines Israel's interest in the Palestinian people's pursuit for security and prosperity. Accordingly, we believe that, with all due precautions taken, those monies should keep flowing. According to CNN, Israel responded angrily to the decision of Spain, Norway, and Ireland to officially recognise a Palestinian state and promptly summoned the ambassadors from each of those countries.
Israel reacted angrily to the decision of the three nations—Spain, Norway, and Ireland—to formally recognise a Palestinian state, recalling their ambassadors from each country shortly after, according to CNN.
The three countries' prime ministers have hailed the recognition of the Palestinian state as a "significant step" towards "peace" in the region, and Irish foreign minister Micheal Martin announced that it will take effect on May 28.
Along with Israel, Norway, and Spain, the Israeli embassy in Ireland denounced the recognition of Palestinian statehood.
Israeli embassy officials expressed their disappointment with the Irish government's recognition decision, citing "worrying initiatives and statements in recent months" (CNN, 2013).
Recognising Palestinian independence following the October 7 assaults carried out by Hamas "sends a message" that "terrorism pays," according to the Israeli embassy, which stated that the decision "brings more questions than answers."
According to CNN, the statement cautioned that this action "jeopardises" the chances of the hostages currently held in Gaza being released by Hamas. A video posted on Tuesday by the Israeli foreign ministry warned Ireland in a social media post that the country might be used as a "pawn" by Iran and Hamas if it recognised the Palestinian state.
