Israel reprimands Irish, Norwegian, Spanish envoys over Palestine move

JERUSALEM (Reuters) -Israel reprimanded the ambassadors of Ireland, Norway and Spain on Thursday over their governments’ plan to recognise a Palestinian state, Israeli officials said, scorning the initiative as a bid to “resurrect… old, failed policies”.

Announcing on Wednesday that they would recognise a Palestinian state on May 28, the three European countries said they wanted to help secure a halt to Israel’s devastating Gaza offensive and revive peace talks that stalled a decade ago.

Reasons for the deadlock include the rise of Hamas Islamists who rule Gaza and seek Israel’s destruction, and the hard-right Israeli government’s expansion of Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank, which it refuses to cede to Palestinians.

The war, triggered by an Oct. 7 cross-border killing and kidnapping spree by Hamas gunmen, has stoked West Bank violence and further dampened any Israeli interest in peace diplomacy.

“If Israel has learned anything in recent months, it is that our children deserve a better, safer future – not the resurrection of old, failed policies created by blindsided back-seat drivers abroad,” government spokesperson Avi Hyman said.

“A recognition of a Palestinian state does not promote peace. It perpetuates war,” he told reporters. “Any kind of so-called solution for the Israeli-Palestinian conflict that compromises Israel’s security does not mean peace. There will be zero compromise on our security.”

The three envoys were summoned to the Foreign Ministry in Jerusalem, where they were to be shown a previously unaired video of Hamas taking female army conscripts captive, officials said.

Israel has also recalled its own ambassadors in Dublin, Oslo and Madrid for consultations.

Some other Western powers say recognition of a Palestinian state should follow negotiations.

(Writing by Dan WilliamsEditing by Gareth Jones)