Israeli minister: There can be only one state between the river and the sea

Israeli Minister of Housing and Construction Uri Ariel vowed on Tuesday afternoon that there would never be any other state between the Jordan River and the sea except for “the State of Israel”.

Speaking during a conference in Jerusalem, Ariel declared that: “In a united Jerusalem, let me say again, loudly and clearly: Across the Jordan river there will be only one state, and that is the State of Israel.”

He also disparaged the current peace talks, claiming: “All this talk of a two-state solution won’t succeed.”

The Israeli official criticised the US warnings of an economic boycott against Israel, saying that: “External pressure is unfair and won’t bring peace. I say to our dear friends overseas: be logical in your demands, and don’t threaten us – not with boycotts and not with ostracisms. The Jewish people won’t give up their land. This is a strong nation. We won’t give up our land, our country, or our principles for money. This pressure won’t work.”

The peace talks between the Palestinians and Israelis resumed last summer under US auspices. Israel’s continued expansion of illegal settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories during this time has increased international calls to boycott Israeli companies that benefit from doing business with the settlements.