Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman warned that Israel will renounce past agreements, including the Oslo Accords, with the Palestinians if they continue to seek unilateral UN recognition of a state in September.
He made the statement Friday during a meeting in Jerusalem with visiting EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton, the Israeli press reported.
"A move like that will be a violation of all the agreements that were signed until today," he said. "Israel will no longer be committed to the agreements signed with the Palestinians in the past 18 years."
The Israeli minister said that there is "zero chance" that negotiations with the Palestinians will resume, due to the position of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.
"Abbas is not interested in an agreement," Lieberman said. "He wants conflict, because that is his personal interest, even though it is against the Palestinians' interest, and many oppose him."
But Israel, he added, "is prepared to renew negotiations. The ball is in the Palestinians' court."
Ashton, who arrived in Israel after a visit to Jordan, said that "it is more urgent than ever" for Israel-Palestinian peace talks to be renewed.
"We are well aware that September is fast approaching. With the events of the Arab Spring and following President Obama's speech, it is more urgent than ever to engage in meaningful negotiations and move the Peace Process forward," she said in a statement.
The statement added, "The EU's position on this is clear, as set out in Council conclusions. That is the message Ashton passed on very clearly in her meeting with Minister Lieberman."
Ashton is to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday.