Paris, The Indonesia Post – France on Tuesday condemned remarks by Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich regarding Palestinians, calling them “irresponsible”.
In a statement, the French Foreign Ministry called on the Israeli government to refrain from using words that could escalate tensions in the region.
“We ask someone in a high position in the Israeli government to show some dignity,” the statement read.
At an event in Paris on Monday organized in memory of French-Israeli Zionist activist Jacques Kupfe, Smotrich said “there are no Palestinians because there are no Palestinians.”
Citing biblical “prophecies” that are “beginning to come true”, he said that “after two thousand years…God gathered his servants together. The Israelis are returning home.”
“There are Arabs around who don’t like it, so what do they do? They created fictitious people and recognized fictitious rights to the Land of Israel, only to fight the Zionist movement,” Smotrich said.
His statement that negated the existence of Palestinians sparked criticism from around the world. (mhn/bbs)
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