Several European foreign ministers have joined the chorus of criticism directed at Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over Israel's opposition to a two-state solution.
Speaking ahead of a meeting of European Union foreign ministers in Brussels on Monday, Irish Foreign Minister Michael Martin said Netanyahu’s comments were “unacceptable” and “do not contribute in any way to the prospects of peace.”
Netanyahu said his desire for security control over all territory west of Jordan is contrary to the existence of a Palestinian state. But Martin said this outcome would harm regional security.
“A two-state solution is the ultimate security guarantee to Israel and to Israeli citizens, and to Palestinians in terms of a future prospect of living in harmonious coexistence,” Martin said.
Latvia’s Foreign Minister of Foreign Affairs Krišjānis Kariņš called Netanyahu’s remarks “discouraging.”
“But in spite of these remarks, from the European side, we need to push in this direction. This is the only way for peace and all of us need peace in the Middle East,” Kariņš said as he arrived at the same meeting.