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 social gathering left the session to keep away from supporting the assertion, regardless of beforehand saying he favoured a two-state answer, the Instances of Israel newspaper reported.
Mustafa Barghouti, the secretary-general of the Palestinian Nationwide Initiative, slammed the passing of the decision.
“No Zionist social gathering 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 dying of [the] Oslo settlement,” Barghouti posted.
The Israeli kneset voted with absolute majority in opposition to the institution of a Palestinian State . No zionist social gathering 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 had been first signed between Palestinian and Israeli leaders in 1993, known as for a viable and sovereign Palestinian state residing aspect by aspect with an Israeli state.
However Israel has continued to undertake insurance policies resembling 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 strategy and coverage of perpetuating the occupation endlessly”.
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 impartial and sovereign state alongside the strains of June 4, 1967, with occupied Jerusalem as its capital, doesn’t deliver safety and peace within the area,” learn an announcement citing the ministry’s spokesperson Sufyan al-Qudah.
The Instances of Israel quoted the decision as saying: “It would 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 at the moment can 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 international locations have recognised Palestinian statehood, together with Spain, Slovenia, Norway, Eire and others.
The decision comes as Netanyahu is predicted to deal with the US Congress subsequent week in Washington, DC, which has brought on divisions amongst Democratic Get together lawmakers who’ve spoken out in opposition to Israel’s conduct in its warfare on Gaza.
On Wednesday, United Nations Secretary-Basic Antonio Guterres mentioned that Israel’s coverage within the occupied West Financial institution was dooming any prospect of a two-state answer.
By way of administrative and authorized steps, Israel is altering the geography of the West Financial institution, Guterres mentioned in an announcement learn by his chief of employees, Courtenay Rattray, throughout a gathering of the UN Safety Council.
“Current developments are driving a stake by means of 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 had been a flagrant violation of worldwide regulation and an impediment to peace with Palestinians.
