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| Yuval Steinitz, Israel's intelligence and strategic affairs minister |
Parliament was guilty of “encouraging terrorist attacks” and “giving up” on peace when MPs cast a “miserable” vote in favour of Palestinian statehood, according to an Israeli cabinet minister.
Yuval Steinitz, the intelligence and strategic affairs minister, told the Telegraph that he was “surprised” and “frustrated” by the passage of a resolution through the Commons last Monday urging the Government to “recognise the state of Palestine alongside the state of Israel”.
This vote came soon after the summer war between Israel and Hamas, the radical Islamist movement, which claimed the lives of 71 Israelis and 2,189 Palestinians.
“It was a reward for this terrorist attack on Israel to make such a vote only two months after Israel was attacked with 4,000 rockets,” said Mr Steinitz. “Of course Israel responded and retaliated, but Israel came under attack for 50 days of fire of hundreds of rockets every day.”
Mr Steinitz pointed out that Hamas had been condemned by Arab leaders including Mahmoud Abbas, the president of the Palestinian Authority, who promised to fight for a state with “politics and wisdom” instead of rockets. » | David Blair, Chief Foreign Correspondent | Friday, October 24, 2014
