Israel seeks bipartisan US support against establishment of a Palestinian state
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Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz says the US must lead a resolution at the International Energy Agency’s council in June to promote further sanctions against Iran.
PHOTO: REUTERS
JERUSALEM – Israel on May 19 called for bipartisan support from the United States against the establishment of a Palestinian state, which it said would be a reward for Hamas and its backer, Iran.
European Union members, including Ireland, Spain, Slovenia and Malta, have said they could recognise a Palestinian state in May, seeing a two-state solution as essential for lasting peace.
Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz, who met top US House Republican Elise Stefanik earlier, said if a Palestinian state was established, Iran would use it as a base to “work towards the destruction of Israel”.
He told Ms Stefanik that the US must lead a resolution at the International Energy Agency’s council in June to promote further sanctions against Iran to stop it obtaining nuclear weapons and supporting groups like Hamas.
Iran denies seeking nuclear weapons.
Ms Stefanik has played a key role in trying to stem the protests that have broken out across US college campuses against Israel’s war in Gaza and in support of Palestinians’ right to self-determination.
The Gaza war broke out after Hamas launched a cross-border assault on Israel on Oct 7,
Since then, at least 35,386 Palestinians have been killed, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. REUTERS
