Prime Minister Netanyahu at his government's weekly cabinet meeting, in Jerusalem. Photo: Screenshot.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday described attempts to “impose a boycott” on Israel as “immoral” and “unjust,” and said they would be ineffective at compelling his government to make any decision that would be against Israel’s interests.

Speaking at the start of his government’s weekly Cabinet meeting, Netanyahu said, “Attempts to impose a boycott on the State of Israel are immoral and unjust. Moreover, they will not achieve their goal.”

“First, they cause the Palestinians to adhere to their intransigent positions and thus push peace further away. Second, no pressure will cause me to concede the vital interests of the State of Israel, especially the security of Israel’s citizens. For both of these reasons, threats to boycott the State of Israel will not achieve their goal.”

Netanyahu’s comments came a day after U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry warned that a failure of the current peace talks between Israel and the Palestinian Authority could lead to more international boycotts against the Jewish state.

“Today’s status quo absolutely, to a certainty, I promise you 100%, cannot be maintained. It’s not sustainable. It’s illusionary. There’s a momentary prosperity, there’s a momentary peace,” Kerry said on Saturday, at a Munich conference.

On Sunday, Israeli ministers responded angrily to Kerry’s warning.

“We expect our friends around the world to stand beside us, against anti-Semitic boycott efforts targeting Israel, and not for them to be their amplifier,” said Economy Minister Naftali Bennett.

Intelligence and Strategic Affairs Minister Yuval Steinitz and Housing and Construction Minister Uri Ariel also criticized Kerry’s remarks.