Angered by Costa Rica's recent announcement recognizing the "state of Palestine," Israel on Tuesday indefinitely postponed a planned meeting between Costa Rican President Oscar Arias and a top Israeli diplomat.

Costa Rican Foreign Minister Bruno Stagno said that his nation's February 5 decision to establish official ties with the "state of Palestine" was meant to encourage accelerated peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians.

Previously warm relations between Israel and Costa Rica began to cool last year when the Central America nation decided to move its embassy from Jerusalem to Tel Aviv. In 1982, Costa Rice was one of only two nations to spurn an international decision to pull out of the Israeli capital in response to Israel's official annexation of a united Jerusalem.