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Israeli lawmakers vote overwhelmingly against Palestinian statehood, challenging US policy
The Biden administration received another rebuff from Israel Wednesday night – this time from the country’s parliament – over the United States’ long-standing support for the eventual establishment of a Palestinian state.
“The Knesset of Israel firmly opposes the establishment of a Palestinian state west of the Jordan (river). The establishment of a Palestinian state in the heart of the Land of Israel would pose an existential danger to the State of Israel and its citizens, perpetuate the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and destabilize the region,” the declaration read.
Among those who backed it was Benny Gantz, an opponent of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Gantz’s vote serves as a blow to those in Washington who see him as someone more inclined to seek a negotiated peace with Palestinians if he ever became Israel’s leader.
Instead, the resolution was “a signal to the international community that pressure to impose a Palestinian state on Israel is futile,” leader of the right-wing opposition ‘New Hope’ party, Gideon Saar, said, according to the Haaretz newspaper.
Knesset resolution a declaration of death of Oslo agreement: Mustafa Barghouti
Mustafa Barghouti, secretary-general of the Palestinian National Initiative, has commented on the Israeli Knesset’s passing of a resolution opposing the two-state solution. “This resolution represents a rejection of peace with Palestinians and an official declaration of the death of Oslo agreement,” the Palestinian politician posted on X.
The Oslo agreement, which was signed between the Palestinian and Israeli leaders in 1993, called for a viable and sovereign Palestinian state living side by side with an Israeli state.
Jordan condemns Israel’s vote opposing Palestinian statehood
Jordan’s Foreign Ministry has strongly condemned the Israeli Knesset’s approval of a resolution opposing the establishment of a Palestinian state, stressing that such a decision is a “dangerous” violation of international law.
“Israel’s continued efforts to deny the Palestinians’ inalienable right to their independent and sovereign state along the lines of June 4, 1967, with occupied Jerusalem as its capital, does not bring security and peace in the region,” read a statement citing the ministry’s spokesperson Sufyan al-Qudah.
Earlier today, the resolution was adopted with 68 votes in favour and only nine against.
Palestinian official slams Israeli vote to oppose statehood
Palestinian Authority official Hussein al-Sheikh says the Knesset’s rejection of an independent Palestine “confirms the racism of the occupying state and its disregard for international law and international legitimacy, and its insistence on the approach and policy of perpetuating the occupation forever”.
Countries of the world that are hesitant to accept the state of Palestine “must recognize it immediately” to protect the two-state solution, he posted on social media.
His comment came after the Israeli parliament overwhelmingly passed a resolution that rejects the establishment of a Palestinian state, saying it would “pose an existential danger” to Israel and “perpetuate the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and destabilize the region”.
UN chief disappointed by Israeli parliament vote against Palestinian state
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is disappointed by an Israeli parliament vote against the creation of a Palestinian state, his spokesperson has said.
“You can’t vote away the two-state solution, so the secretary-general is very disappointed by the decision of the Knesset [Israeli parliament],” said Stephane Dujarric, calling such a blueprint the only viable path to sustainable peace between Israel and the Palestinians.
