Unhappy with Palestine recognition, but diplomat says relations unharmed

Israel has told the Mia Mottley administration that its “unfortunate” decision to recognise Palestine as a state will set back the Middle East peace process.

“We think this decision is an unfortunate one because it will not, in an iota at all, promote any kind of solution to the conflict or promotion of peace,” Israel’s non-resident Ambassador to Barbados Itai Bardov told Barbados TODAY in an exclusive telephone interview from his Panama base.

But he gave an assurance that Tel Aviv’s longstanding diplomatic ties with Bridgetown remain intact.

“I do want to stress that this will not affect the bilateral good relations between Israel and Barbados, but we are disappointed with the decision to recognise the Palestinian State, which goes against the Oslo Accord,” he contended.

His comments came as the 193-member United Nations General Assembly overwhelmingly backed a Palestinian bid to become a full UN member by recognising it as qualified to join and recommending the UN Security Council “reconsider the matter favourably”.

“We are not going to pursue any kind of legal matters, but I can tell you that the Government of Barbados is fully aware of our position on the matter; they are fully aware of our objection to these unilateral steps because they promote instability, rather than stability that we seek,” the Israeli diplomat asserted.

He disclosed his government is in contact with Barbados at the diplomatic level.

“We are friendly countries, and we wish to cooperate and work together with Barbados…but of course, we have our political differences, and this is definitely one of them,” he insisted.

“If we want to reach an end to the conflict, to reach some kind of solution, between Israel and the Palestinians, this can only be done on a bilateral basis between Israel and the Palestinians.”

The Israel envoy also had a message for the Barbadian people: “It is important for the people in Barbados to understand that Israel is seeking to have peace. Israel has proven in the past, time and time again, that it is willing to even sacrifice for peace.”

Ambassador Bardov said the Oslo Accord, the peace plan that exists between the Palestinians and Israelis, states that no unilateral steps should be taken such as this one by Barbados.

He also pointed to Israel’s treaties with various states in the region including the Gulf states and its neighbour Egypt and Morocco.

“We signed a peace accord with Egypt, and for the return of the signature on a piece of paper, we gave Egypt the Sinai Peninsula, three times the size of the State of Israel, rich with resources…we gave that to Egypt, just for peace,” he said.

Ambassador Bardov also noted a peace treaty with Jordan which also granted it territory. He stressed that every year, Israel also supplies upwards of 50 million cubic litres of water as part of the agreement.

“There have been at least five times, [the Palestinians] have been offered peace, and a chance to create an independent state, which has always been rejected,” the ambassador claimed.

“Right now, the current conflict taking place in Gaza is against Hamas that is holding 132 of our hostages, captives, without any kind of rights awarded to them. Even the Red Cross is not allowed to visit them.”

In a related development, the Understanding Israel Foundation, a Trinidad-based, pro-Israeli organisation, is expected to write Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley concerning Port of Spain’s decision to recognise Palestine.

Barbados TODAY understands that the organisation’s legal representatives, J. Young and Company, may send a similar letter to Prime Minister Mottley.

In announcing Barbados’ recognition of Israel last month, Minister of Foreign Affairs Kerrie Symmonds declared: “How can we say we want a two-state solution if we do not recognise Palestine as a state?”

Symmonds had stressed that the decision does not affect Barbados’ relationship with Israel, noting that Bridgetown has always maintained at the UN that there should be a two-state solution to the Middle East crisis.

“I think an error that we have made through the years and to correct that,” he said. “And now, we have formally reached out to the State of Palestine to signal our intention to formally recognise them as a state.”

emmanueljoseph@barbadostoday.bb