Jakarta –
United States of America joined in criticizing the statement of the right-wing Minister of Finance IsraelBezalel Smotrich for denying the existence of the people Palestine. The US called the statement “dangerous.”
“We consider the comments to be not only inaccurate but also deeply concerning and dangerous,” US State Department spokesman Vedant Patel told reporters. AFPWednesday (22/3/2023).
He also called Smotrich’s remarks “offensive.”
“The Palestinian people have a rich history and culture and the United States values our partnership with Palestinian people,” he said.
But asked about how the remarks would affect US relations with its ally Israel, Patel said Smotrich “is not the only individual in the Israeli government.”
Smotrich sparked outrage after speaking at a podium decorated with a variation of the Israeli flag showing the state of Israel with expanded borders to include the West Bank, East Jerusalem, Gaza and Jordan.
“Is there a Palestinian history or culture? There isn’t,” Smotrich said in a clip showing a speech delivered at a conference in Paris, France on Sunday (19/3) local time. The video was widely circulated on social media.
“There is no such thing as the Palestinian people,” he said.
Smotrich is known to lead the nationalist-religious party in the right-wing coalition government led by Prime Minister (PM) Benjamin Netanyahu.
(it/it)
