Egyptian Foreign Ministry condemned as "irresponsible and provocative" the remarks of Israeli finance minister that there were no such a thing as Palestinian history, culture or people.
"The Israeli statements, which bear hallmarks of racism, ran counter to the realities of history and geography; they only help foment tensions and the feelings of ire among the Palestinian people as well as the free peoples around the globe," the Ministry said in a press release on Monday.
"Such remarks could also undermine the efforts to restore calm between the Palestinians and the Israelis in the run-up to the holy month of Ramadan," it cautioned.
The Ministry noted that Muslims' holy month coincides this year with the Christian and Jewish holidays, which should be an occasion to promote peace, tolerance and mutual respect.
During his stay in Paris, Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, also in charge of administration of the occupied Palestinian West Bank, alleged that the notion of Palestinian people was no more than a 100-year-old illusion. The far-right minister also called for wiping out the West Bank town of Hawarah.
Source: Kuwait News Agency