Danish FM Lars Løkke Rasmussen rules out recognition of a Palestinian state without strict preconditions, as Gideon Sa’ar slams Europe for “rewarding terror.”
In a high-stakes press conference in Jerusalem on Sunday, Danish Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen delivered a clear message: Denmark will not recognize a Palestinian state — at least not yet.
Standing beside Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar, Rasmussen outlined a series of uncompromising preconditions that must be fulfilled before Copenhagen would consider recognition.
“We are not ready yet to recognize, but our position is that we cannot allow anyone to have a de facto veto over the Danish position,” Rasmussen said, insisting that recognition must follow a negotiated two-state solution.
He stressed Denmark’s red lines:
- No recognition of a Palestinian state governed by Hamas or any terrorist group
- Disarmament of Palestinian forces
- Recognition of Israel’s sovereignty
- Transparency and democratic governance
“You can’t run for elections if you don’t recognize the sovereignty of Israel,” Rasmussen declared, adding that Denmark still hopes to help “clarify this vision” for Israelis, Palestinians, and the world.
His remarks come as France, Britain, Canada, and Belgium prepare to announce recognition of a Palestinian state at the UN General Assembly later this month.
Sa’ar, however, blasted Europe’s push, accusing the Palestinian Authority of violating Oslo Accords commitments.
“The PA doesn’t deserve a state,” he said bluntly. “They reward and encourage terrorism by the pay-for-slay doctrine, paying salaries to terrorists and their families. Demanding Israel to risk its future and security in Judea, Samaria, and Gaza — we will simply not do that.”
With Denmark’s stance now publicly diverging from other European capitals, the Jerusalem press conference highlighted the growing rift in Western diplomacy over Palestinian recognition — and Israel’s absolute refusal to trade security for symbolic gestures.
