The Israeli parliament, with the support of the majority of representatives, adopted a resolution rejecting the possibility of establishing a Palestinian state.
The resolution was co-sponsored by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s ruling coalition parties along with right-wing opposition parties, and it even received support from Benny Gantz’s centrist National Unity Party.
Lawmakers from opposition leader Yair Lapid’s center-left Yesh Atid party walked out of the session, even though he advocated a two-state solution. The only ones who opposed the resolution were MPs from the Labor, Ra’am and Hadash-Ta’al parties.
The resolution was adopted just days before Netanyahu’s visit to the US to address Congress and meet with US President Joe Biden at the White House. The move is likely to further irritate Democrats who are unhappy that the Israeli government is rejecting the two-state solution.
Already in February, the parliament adopted a resolution proposed by Netanyahu that rejects the establishment of a Palestinian state, but that proposal specifically refers to the unilateral establishment of such a state due to reports that some countries are considering recognizing a Palestinian state without a peace agreement with Israel.
This resolution, which was supported by 68 MPs and nine voted against, completely rejects the establishment of a Palestinian state, even as part of an agreement with Israel.
“The Israeli parliament firmly opposes the establishment of a Palestinian state west of Jordan. The establishment of a Palestinian state in the heart of the land of Israel will represent an existential threat to the State of Israel and its citizens, prolong the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and destabilize the region,” the resolution states.
It goes on to say that it is only a matter of time before Hamas takes over the Palestinian state and turns it into a terrorist base, working with the Iranian-led axis to eliminate Israel.
“Promoting the idea of a Palestinian state at this time will be a reward for terrorism and will only encourage Hamas and its supporters to see this as a victory, thanks to the massacre of October 7, 2023 and the prelude to the takeover of Jihadist Islam in the Middle East,” it said, Klix.ba writes.
