(VOVworld) – The Israeli Foreign Ministry said Tuesday that Israel will “reduce” ties with nations that voted for last week’s UN Security Council resolution demanding a halt to settlement building in Palestinian territory. Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman Emmanuel Nahshon denied reports that diplomatic ties had been suspended, saying that Israel was “temporarily reducing” visits and work with embassies, without providing further details. Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister Tzipi Hotovely expressed concern that Israel would miss opportunities to explain its position by cancelling visits; however, she made clear that other countries can’t take Israel for granted.

Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman Emmanuel Nahshon (Source: AFP/ VNA)

The same day, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said he hopes that the upcoming Middle East conference in France will create a mechanism to end Israeli settlements as Palestine is building new settlements in East Jerusalem, despite the recent resolution of the UN Security Council. Abbas said the resolution paves the way for the upcoming formal negotiation and the international peace conference scheduled to take place next year in Paris.