The Palestinian Authority on Sunday demanded U.S. Ambassador to Israel David Friedman be fired after he expressed support for the annexation of parts of Judea and Samaria, an area the Palestinians seek for a future state.
Friedman, a staunch supporter of the Israeli settlement enterprise, told The New York Times that "under certain circumstances, I think Israel has the right to retain some, but unlikely all, of the West Bank."
Asked how the U.S. would respond if Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu would make good on a campaign promise to annex parts of Judea and Samaria, Friedman said, "We really don't have a view until we understand how much, on what terms, why does it make sense, why is it good for Israel, why is it good for the region, why does it not create more problems than it solves. These are all things that we'd want to understand, and I don't want to prejudge."
Following Friedman's interview, a U.S. State Department official said the administration's policy on Israeli settlements "has not changed."
Palestinian officials were outraged by the envoy's remark.
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas issued a statement demanding Friedman's dismissal. A similar demand was voiced by the left-wing groups Peace Now and J Street.
The Palestinian Foreign Ministry announced Sunday that Ramallah was considering filing a complaint against Friedman with the International Criminal Court, for "jeopardizing peace and security in the Middle East," citing that under international law, recognizing Israeli sovereignty in the West Bank was illegal.
"Friedman is ignorant in political work and belongs to the state of settlers," Ramallah's Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
"Friedman's remarks are an extension of the U.S. administration's policy, which is fully biased in favor of the occupation and its expansionist colonial policies. The remarks of the settler Friedman expose the truth about him and his ideas, as well as those of his settler peers.
"We are studying whether his racist rhetoric is sufficient to file a complaint against him with the International Criminal Court for trying to impose his racist visions and threatening peace and security in the region, as well as exposing the Palestinian people to several dangers and conspiracies.
"What reasoning could justify Friedman's logic that Israel has the right to annex parts of the West Bank? International law prohibits the annexation of land by force, as well as a reality imposed by occupying powers," the ministry said.
Senior Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat said Friedman's remarks proved that U.S. President Donald Trump's administration was heavily biased in favor of Israel and that the Palestinians were justified in choosing to boycott an economic conference in Bahrain later this month where Washington is set to unveil the first phase of a long-delayed peace plan.
Another Palestinian official, Mustafa Barghouti, called Friedman a "spokesman for the settlers" and said his comments amounted to "chutzpah."
