Deputy Foreign Minister Daniel Ayalon has compared recognition of a Palestinian state to using the "like" button on Facebook, writing in his personal blog last week that "the state of Facebook is more real than the state of Palestine."

Open gallery view Deputy Foreign Minister Daniel Ayalon Credit: Hagai Ofan

Referring to recent announcements by several Latin American countries that declared recognition a Palestinian state within the 1967 borders, the deputy foreign minister opined that any such Palestinian state was as virtual one as the popular social network.

"Facebook is the 'like' state, and so is the Palestinian state recognized in Brasilia and Buenos Aires," said Ayalon. "Irresponsible governments are quick to 'like' the Palestinian state without actually checking out its profile: an authority without sovereignty, with no borders or territorial continuity, no economic ability or democratic culture."

The Palestinian Authority has recently been seeking international recognition of a state at a time when talks on a long-term peace settlement with Israel are deadlocked.

According to Ayalon, the Palestinian authority is looking for "virtual friends" in an effort to create "a virtual state."

"The state of Facebook is more real that the Palestinian state which would be created unilaterally without negotiation with the elected government in Jerusalem," said Ayalon.

Ecuador President Rafael Correa formally recognized Palestine as an independent state, making his the fifth Latin American country to make such an announcement.

Earlier this month, Brazil, Venezuela and Argentina and Uruguay recognized Palestine as an independent state within its borders prior to 1967, in decisions that the United States and Israel slammed as counterproductive and damaging.

The European Union has staved off Palestinian pressure in favor of waiting until the "appropriate" time, while the U.S. House of Representatives passed a resolution this month saying only peace talks could set such a process in motion.