Prime Minister of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu said that the condition for the restart of the peace negotiations is recognition of the State of Israel by the Palestianians / Photo Courtesy of the PM Office

Israel is prepared to live in peace with a Palestinian state, but for peace to endure, Israel’s security must be protected. The Palestinians must recognize the Jewish State and they must be prepared to end the conflict with Israel once and for all. None of these vital interests, these vital interests of peace, none of them appear in the resolution that will be put forward before the General Assembly today and that is why Israel cannot accept it

The only way to achieve peace is through agreements that are reached by the parties directly; through valid negotiations between themselves, and not through UN resolutions that completely ignore Israel’s vital security and national interests. And because this resolution is so one-sided, it doesn’t advance peace, it pushes it backwards. 

Israel departed Gaza and Iran went in. Precisely the same thing happened when we exited Lebanon – Israel went out and Iran came in. As prime minister of the State of Israel I will not allow another Iranian terror base to arise in the country’s heart, in Judea and Samaria 1 km from here in central Jerusalem. The UN decision today won’t change any fact on the ground. It will not promote the establishment of a Palestinian state; it will make it more remote.

Peace will be attained via agreements reached in Jerusalem and Ramallah, rather than via declarations devoid of reality that are reached at the United Nations.