Jerusalem is considering applying sovereignty to Jewish communities in Area C of Judea and Samaria, Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar said in an interview published on Thursday.
Sa’ar noted that no decision had yet been made and emphasized that the government would not annex any Palestinian Authority-controlled territory.
Under the Oslo Accords Jerusalem signed with the Palestine Liberation Organization in the 1990s, Area C of Judea and Samaria is under full Israeli security and civilian control.
“The issue will be dealt with by the Israeli government,” Sa’ar told Italy’s Corriere della Sera daily when asked about Jerusalem’s expected response to the decision by some European nations to recognize a Palestinian state.
“The government of Israel will assess timing and content. No decision has been made on the matter at the moment,” Israel’s top diplomat stated in the remarks to the daily, which were translated to Italian.
Sa’ar stressed that “there is not even an intention to discuss annexing the territories of the Palestinian Authority, because we do not want to control the Palestinians.
“What can be discussed, but has not yet been decided, is implementing Israeli law in the Israeli communities that are there and are not under Palestinian Authority,” he said.
Sa’ar said that the decision by the United Kingdom, France, Canada and others to recognize “Palestine” essentially created “the State of Hamas.
“We will not allow that to happen. Hamas would quickly take control of the West Bank as it did in the Gaza Strip in 2007 after Israel withdrew. Today everyone sees the danger,” he said. “I express appreciation for those countries that do not let themselves be dragged into this.”
On Monday, French President Emmanuel Macron, along with the leaders of Luxembourg, Malta and Monaco, recognized a Palestinian state at a summit in New York. The recognition followed similar actions by the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and Portugal on Sept. 21.
Netanyahu condemned the recognitions as a “shameful surrender” as he departed for the U.N. on Thursday, asserting that capitulating to Palestinian terrorism would not obligate Israel in any way.
“A Palestinian state will not be established,” Netanyahu declared.
Sa’ar and Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer have told France, the U.K. and others that their moves could lead to annexing Area C and legalizing illegal outposts.
“Unilateral moves against Israel will be met with unilateral moves by Israel,” Sa’ar told his counterparts, Israel Hayom reported in May.
Sources close to Dermer told Ynet earlier this month that “there will be sovereignty in Judea and Samaria; the question is over which part.”
Nearly 70% of Israelis want Jerusalem to extend full legal sovereignty over the disputed territory, according to a poll conducted on Jan. 29.
