Nations recognizing state of Palestine will play little role in peace process, claims US secretary of state

ANKARA

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has claimed that Western countries that have recognized the state of Palestine, such as France, the UK, and Canada, will play a little role in ending the attacks on Gaza and the negotiation process.

Speaking on NBC's Today program about the situation in Gaza, Rubio claimed that their goal is "not to end the war, but to have peace," and that "you can't have peace as long as Hamas exists."

Rubio said the people of Gaza will have a better chance in a rebuilt Gaza with the help of many countries, including the US, and expressed no concern about the recognition of the State of Palestine by countries such as the UK, France, and Canada.

“No, not concerned at all. None of the countries really will play much of a role in bringing about the end of this conflict in Gaza,” he added.

Repeating that the recognition of Palestine by these countries is part of their domestic politics, adding: “The truth of the matter is that any future resolution of this matter with Israel is going to have to be negotiated. It's not going to be up to France or the UK or any other country.”

In a separate appearance on CBS’s Mornings program, Rubio was asked if he believed in a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian issue, to which he replied: “Well, listen, the future of the Palestinian people living alongside the Jewish people in Israel is something that everyone knows is going to have to be negotiated.

"That has to be part of a much broader, more complex negotiation. From the Israeli standpoint, not only do you have to -- if there’s going to be a state, you need to know, well, who’s the government of that state?”

Canada, Australia, the UK, and Portugal announced their recognition of Palestine on Sept. 21, while France did so on Sept. 22.