UAE condemns controversial statements by Israeli minister

The UAE has condemned Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich's controversial statements in which he denied the existence of the Palestinian people.

His use of a map of Israel that includes lands from Jordan and the occupied Palestinian territories, was also condemned by the UAE.

In a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MoFAIC) said the UAE rejected the inciteful rhetoric and all practices that contradict moral and human values and principles.

The ministry stressed the need to confront hate speech and violence and the importance of promoting the values of tolerance and coexistence to reduce instability in the region.

It also emphasised the need to support all regional and international efforts to advance the Middle East Peace Process, end illegal practices that threaten the two-state solution and establish an independent Palestinian state on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital.