Ofir Akunis
Ofir AkunisFlash 90

Deputy Minister Ofir Akunis (Likud) dismissed on Monday the threat against Israel issued by Palestinian Authority (PA) Chairman Mahmoud Abbas, as reported by his aides on Sunday.

Those aides said that Abbas will soon appeal to the international community to set a deadline for Israel to withdraw back to the pre-1967 borders and make way for an independent Palestinian state.

The “deadline” is part of Abbas’s unilateral efforts to achieve a Palestinian state.

“No one will threaten us, not Abbas nor anyone else. I’ve never heard of a nation who withdraws from its land,” Akunis told Arutz Sheva in response to Abbas’s plans.

He noted that Abbas’s plan is a “ridiculous” plan, adding, "There is no power on earth who can force us to withdraw."

Akunis further said that he does not see any peace agreement on the horizon, and reminded that Abbas set up a unity government with the Hamas terrorist organization.

"I do not see a diplomatic solution on the horizon,” he said. “Mahmoud Abbas formed on June 3 of this year what he called a government of reconciliation and what I call a terrorist government with the participation of Hamas, the same Hamas that is now firing on our communities around the Gaza Strip.”

“[Abbas] founded this government and any reasonable person can see that since this government of terrorism was established, the area deteriorated into an unprecedented level of violence that began with the murder of three boys, then we saw the rocket fire and that led to Operation Protective Edge,” said Akunis.

"So what diplomatic horizon are we talking about? Certainly not as long as Mahmoud Abbas heads the Palestinian terrorist government which includes Hamas ministers,” he continued.

"The left spoke of a new Middle East and of security following the Disengagement. We listened to it and all these predictions have been shattered at our expense and at the expense of our children," concluded Akunis.