Israel’s parliament has handed a decision that overwhelmingly rejected the institution of a Palestinian state, Israeli media reported.
The decision handed within the Knesset with 68 votes in favour and simply 9 in opposition to it early on Thursday.
It mentioned {that a} Palestinian state would pose “an existential hazard to the State of Israel and its residents, perpetuate the Israeli-Palestinian battle and destabilize the area”.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition with far-right events co-sponsored the decision. Opposition chief Yair Lapid’s centre-left occasion left the session to keep away from supporting the assertion, regardless of beforehand saying he favoured a two-state answer, the Occasions of Israel newspaper reported.
Mustafa Barghouti, the secretary-general of the Palestinian Nationwide Initiative, slammed the passing of the decision.
“No Zionist occasion from each the federal government and the opposition voted in opposition to the decision,” he wrote on X.
“This decision represents a rejection of peace with Palestinians and an official declaration of the demise of [the] Oslo settlement,” Barghouti posted.
The Israeli kneset voted with absolute majority in opposition to the institution of a Palestinian State . No zionist occasion from each the federal government and the opposition voted in opposition to the decision.
This decision represents a rejection of peace with Palestinians and an official…— Mustafa Barghouti @Mustafa_Barghouti (@MustafaBarghou1) July 18, 2024
The Oslo Accords, which have been first signed between Palestinian and Israeli leaders in 1993, referred to as for a viable and sovereign Palestinian state dwelling facet by facet with an Israeli state.
However Israel has continued to undertake insurance policies akin to building illegal settlements on Palestinian lands throughout the occupied West Financial institution and an entire blockade of Gaza.
Palestinian Authority official Hussein al-Sheikh condemned the decision on social media, saying the Knesset’s rejection “confirms the racism of the occupying state and its disregard for worldwide regulation and worldwide legitimacy, and its insistence on the method and coverage of perpetuating the occupation without end”.
Jordan’s Ministry of Overseas Affairs mentioned the decision’s approval was a “harmful” violation of worldwide regulation.
“Israel’s continued efforts to disclaim the Palestinians’ inalienable proper to their unbiased and sovereign state alongside the traces of June 4, 1967, with occupied Jerusalem as its capital, doesn’t convey safety and peace within the area,” learn a press release citing the ministry’s spokesperson Sufyan al-Qudah.
The Occasions of Israel quoted the decision as saying: “It’ll solely be a matter of a short while till Hamas takes over the Palestinian state and turns it right into a radical Islamic terror base, working in coordination with the Iranian-led axis to get rid of the State of Israel.”
It added {that a} Palestinian state right now could be a “reward for terrorism and can solely encourage Hamas and its supporters to see this as a victory”, referring to the Hamas-led assaults on October 7 in southern Israel that triggered the present battle.
The choice, nevertheless, is just not new for the Knesset which has beforehand rejected Palestinian statehood.
A rising variety of nations have recognised Palestinian statehood, together with Spain, Slovenia, Norway, Eire and others.
The decision comes as Netanyahu is anticipated to handle america Congress subsequent week in Washington, DC, which has induced divisions amongst Democratic Celebration lawmakers who’ve spoken out in opposition to Israel’s conduct in its warfare on Gaza.
On Wednesday, United Nations Secretary-Common Antonio Guterres mentioned that Israel’s coverage within the occupied West Financial institution was dooming any prospect of a two-state answer.
Via administrative and authorized steps, Israel is altering the geography of the West Financial institution, Guterres mentioned in a press release learn by his chief of employees, Courtenay Rattray, throughout a gathering of the UN Safety Council.
“Current developments are driving a stake by the center of any prospect for a two-state answer,” he mentioned. “We should change course. All settlement exercise should stop instantly.”
The UN chief added that the settlements have been a flagrant violation of worldwide regulation and an impediment to peace with Palestinians.