Israel Warns of “Unilateral Measures” if Palestinian State Recognized Without Agreement

The long-standing debate over the recognition of a Palestinian state reignited this weekend as Israel’s foreign minister issued a stark warning during a diplomatic meeting in Jerusalem.

Following talks with German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul, Israel’s Gideon Saar made clear that any unilateral move to recognize Palestinian statehood could provoke immediate action from Israel.

“Any unilateral recognition… would harm the future prospects of a bilateral process and would force us to take unilateral measures in response,” Saar stated, according to Agence France-Presse and Agerpres.

The comments come amid mounting international discussions over potential recognition of Palestine outside of a negotiated settlement with Israel.

A divided international response

Germany reaffirmed its support for a two-state solution as the only viable path to peace and stability in the region.

“The prospect of a two-state solution remains the best chance for Israelis and Palestinians to live in peace, security, and dignity,” Wadephul said, while also cautioning that both illegal settlement expansion and premature recognition would undermine that possibility.

While Israel remains opposed, close to 150 countries already recognize a Palestinian state. Recent moves by Ireland, Norway, Spain, and Slovenia have brought the issue back to the forefront of international diplomacy.

French President Emmanuel Macron is expected to co-chair an international conference at the United Nations in June alongside Saudi Arabia, aimed at reviving the stalled two-state process.

Macron has suggested that the meeting could trigger a broader wave of recognitions, including potential action from France itself, while also encouraging Arab and Muslim-majority nations to recognize Israel.

Netanyahu government holds firm

Israel’s government, considered the most right-leaning in the country’s history, remains firmly opposed to Palestinian statehood, which Saar described once again as “a reward for Hamas terrorism.”

The war in Gaza, triggered by the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks that killed 1,218 people in Israel—mostly civilians—remains a deeply divisive issue.

According to UN-verified figures from the Hamas-run Health Ministry, Israel’s subsequent military campaign has left at least 52,829 dead in Gaza, with the majority believed to be civilians.

Of the 251 hostages taken by Hamas during the attack, 58 remain in captivity; Israeli authorities have confirmed 34 of these as deceased.

In addition, Hamas continues to hold the remains of an Israeli soldier killed in Gaza during a previous conflict in 2014.