Why does Israel say recognition would make peace harder?

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Recognition of Palestinian Statehood Would Hinder Peace Efforts, Israel Argues

Israel contends that international recognition of a Palestinian state would complicate peace negotiations and destabilise the region, potentially prompting unilateral actions from Israel. Foreign Minister Gideon Saar stated that such recognition by countries like France and the UK would make it "harder to get to the peace." This stance is linked to Israeli plans for further settlement expansion in the occupied West Bank, which officials suggest is intended to preclude the establishment of a Palestinian state.
Opposition to Recognition and Potential Regional Destabilisation

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar has explicitly stated that nations recognising a Palestinian state are making a "tremendous mistake." He argued that this move would not only make achieving peace more difficult but also lead to regional destabilisation. Saar further warned that such international recognition could push Israel towards making "unilateral decisions" in response, though the nature of these decisions was not specified.
Settlement Expansion as a Countermeasure

The remarks by Saar coincide with Israel's approval of new settlements in the occupied West Bank, most notably the E1 project situated east of Jerusalem. This development has drawn international concern for its potential to undermine the viability of a future Palestinian state. Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has publicly stated that the E1 project's purpose is to "bury the idea of a Palestinian state."
Annexation Plans and the Preclusion of a Palestinian State

Further elaborating on the strategy, Smotrich indicated that annexing significant portions of the West Bank would permanently remove the possibility of dividing the territory to establish a Palestinian state. He asserted that such annexation would "take the idea of dividing our tiny land and establishing a terrorist state at its centre off the agenda once and for all." This position underscores a broader Israeli policy objective to consolidate control over the West Bank and prevent the formation of an independent Palestinian entity.
International Law and Settlement Illegality

It is a widely held international legal position that all Israeli settlements in occupied Palestinian territory are considered illegal. This classification stems from the Fourth Geneva Convention, which prohibits an occupying power from transferring parts of its own civilian population into the territory it occupies. Despite this international consensus, Israel has continued to expand its settlement activities across the West Bank.

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Why does Israel say recognition would make peace harder?

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