The Knesset overwhelmingly passed a resolution early Thursday rejecting the establishment of a Palestinian state.
This move was backed by parties within Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition and right-wing opposition parties, including support from Benny Gantz’s centrist National Unity party.
Notably, lawmakers from Yair Lapid’s center-left Yesh Atid party abstained from voting, despite Lapid’s previous advocacy for a two-state solution. The resolution faced opposition primarily from lawmakers representing the Labor, Ra’am, and Hadash-Ta’al parties.
This decision comes just days before Netanyahu’s scheduled visit to the US, where he is set to address Congress and meet with President Joe Biden. The timing of the resolution is expected to exacerbate tensions with Democrats who are uneasy about supporting an Israeli government moving away from a two-state solution.
This isn’t the first time the Knesset has taken such a stance. Back in February, another resolution sponsored by Netanyahu rejected the establishment of a Palestinian state under any circumstances, citing concerns about potential security risks and destabilization in the region. The latest resolution reaffirms this stance with a vote of 68-9.
“The Knesset of Israel firmly opposes the establishment of a Palestinian state west of the Jordan River. Establishing such a state would pose an existential threat to Israel, perpetuate the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and destabilize the region,” the resolution stated.
Critics argue that promoting this resolution undermines efforts towards a negotiated peace settlement and could be seen as a setback in international diplomacy aimed at resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
