US warns against recognition of Palestine as Israel pushes West Bank annexation
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has cautioned countries against recognizing Palestine, warning the move would “create big problems”
WASHINGTON, United States (MNTV) — US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has cautioned countries against recognizing Palestine, warning the move would “create big problems” as Israel advances plans to annex large parts of the occupied West Bank.
Speaking at a joint press conference with Ecuadorian Foreign Minister Gabriela Sommerfeld in Quito, Rubio said Washington had advised its partners against recognition, but some proceeded anyway.
“We predicted this would happen. We warned everybody it would happen. Nonetheless, some of these people decided they wanted to move forward with something illusory,” he said. Rubio claimed that recognition by France and other countries encouraged Hamas to abandon negotiations and escalate its demands.
On Israeli moves toward annexation, Rubio noted: “What you’re seeing with the West Bank and the annexation, that’s not a final thing. That’s something that’s being discussed among some elements of Israeli politics. I’m not going to opine on that today.”
His remarks came days after Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich announced plans to annex 82% of the occupied West Bank to block the creation of a Palestinian state.
The international community considers all Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank illegal under international law. The UN has repeatedly warned that settlement expansion threatens the viability of a two-state solution.
In July 2024, the International Court of Justice issued a landmark opinion declaring Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territories illegal and called for the evacuation of all settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.
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