'A bad move' Recognition of Palestine criticised by Israeli MPs

‘Awave of international recognitions of a Palestinian state has prompted bitter and almost unanimous condemnation across the political spectrum in Israel, uniting political foes and, analysts say, potentially reinforcing the ruling coalition’s grip on power.

- Jason Burke

The UK, Portugal, Australia and Canada formally recognised a state of Palestine on Sunday, with France expected to follow suit last night.

Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel’s prime minister, called the recognitions an “absurdity” and a “reward for terrorism”, while Israel’s president, Isaac Herzog, said the “forces of darkness” would be emboldened.

Opposition leaders have used similar language. Yair Lapid, who heads the centrist Yesh Atid party, described “a diplomatic disaster, a bad move and a reward for terror”.

Israel’s government was unlikely to change course as a result of the recognitions, experts said. “This will not have one millimetre of influence on policymaking,” said Yaakov Amidror, a former national security adviser to Netanyahu and an analyst at the Jerusalem Institute for Strategy and Security, a conservative thinktank.