JERUSALEM—Speaking to the media after a meeting in Jerusalem with Israeli President Reuven Rivlin, Czech President Milos Zeman, who is on a three-day state visit to Israel, said he did not believe in a two-state solution.
“I do not see how an independent state can be created in Gaza because Hamas promotes a state of terror,” he said.
“I was inspired by your idea about one state with two nations. And I know this idea is provocative. Any big and great idea is provocative,” Zeman told the Israeli President.
“I wonder what will be your arguments for this idea because for many, many decades, there is a discussion about two independent states,” he said. “But frankly, I do not see an independent state in Gaza because I understand Hamas as a terror organization and not as a state.”
Zeman is in Israel to inaugurate the “Czech House” in the context of festivities to mark Czech Republic National Day, at the Jerusalem Cinematheque compound. The ”Czech House” is considered as the first step before moving the Czech embassy to Jerusalem as he announced last April.
“We welcome your support for the eventual move of the embassy of the Czech Republic to Jerusalem. Jerusalem is the city of peace. May peace begin in Jerusalem, and may it spread from Jerusalem to all the world,” Rivlin said.
During his visit, Zeman was also due to address the Knesset lay a wreath at the Mount Herzl military cemetery in Jerusalem, visit the Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial museum and will be hosted for lunch by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.