(Communicated by the Foreign Minister’s Media Advisor)

In a statement issued today (Tuesday December 16 2014), Minister of Foreign Affairs Avigdor Liberman stated that Israel will not agree to Palestinian dictates, and called for the implementation of an Israeli initiative.

FM Liberman added: The draft resolution being promoted by the Palestinians calling for the recognition of a Palestinian state and the ending of the occupation within a period of not more than two years, which is expected to go to vote tomorrow at the UN Security Council, is not the only anti-Israel move that will be voted on by the Palestinians and their supporters. The European Parliament will also vote tomorrow on the proposal to recognize a Palestinian state, as will the Parliament of Luxembourg. In addition, the Luxembourg Court of Justice will deliberate whether to remove Hamas from the European Union's terrorist list and the conference of the Fourth Geneva Convention Signatories will convene in Geneva - another Palestinian step designed to discredit Israel and present it as an aggressor and violator of human rights.

These efforts, when linked to other similar efforts that have already been or are about to be implemented, constitute a planned and organized campaign designed to impose a de-facto situation on Israel. This is a political attack with which we must deal in an astute and determined manner.

The State of Israel will not agree to Palestinian dictates. Any attempt by the Palestinians to make use of international entities to impose their desired solution on Israel will only deteriorate the situation in the region and is destined to fail. European countries that cooperate with the Palestinians on these initiatives are comparable to a person who brings a burning match to someone holding a powder keg in his hand. These countries help no one and are simply acting out of their own internal political and social interests, without caring about the results here in the Middle East. Israel will meet unilateral actions by the Palestinians with significant steps, both in the field and in the international arena.

However, in addition to our resistance and efforts to contain these processes, we must also initiate. We cannot not sit idly by, merely stating our opposition verbally. The absence of an Israeli initiative deteriorates our position in the international arena, harms our relationship with our friends in the West and prevents us from defending our position regarding the things that are of significance to us. Standing in place endangers Israel.