Israel denies founding of Palestinian state
Rejection of the Establishment of a Palestinian State: Israel's Parliament Stays True to Its Position. Such a Resolution is Carried by More Than Half of the Deputies.
Israel's Parliament speaks out once again against the establishment of a Palestinian state. The majority of deputies voted for a resolution rejecting statehood, as reported by the parliament. Among those in favor were, according to reports, the right-religious coalition parties under the leadership of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, as well as the opposition party of Benny Gantz, which, according to polls, would be the strongest party in upcoming elections and would receive the most seats in the parliament. Gantz was until recently a member of the now disbanded war cabinet.
"The establishment of a Palestinian state in the heart of the Land of Israel would represent an existential threat to the State of Israel and its citizens," the resolution stated. "It will only be a matter of a short time before Hamas takes over the Palestinian state and turns it into a radical Islamic terrorist base." This one would work to destroy the State of Israel.
Tensions with US Democrats?
68 of the 120 deputies voted for the resolution, nine members of Arab parties opposed it. The rest were absent or abstained. The liberal Future Party of Opposition Leader Yair Lapid, reportedly, did not vote against it. Lapid is known as a supporter of a two-state solution. This means that an independent, democratic, and peaceful Palestinian state exists alongside Israel.
Netanyahu himself, according to the "Jerusalem Post," was not present for the vote. The vote confirmed the previous position of the parliament and had no concrete consequences, but could be perceived as a provocation before Netanyahu's visit to the US, as written in the Israeli newspaper "The Times of Israel." Netanyahu is scheduled to give a speech before the US Congress on the Gaza War on July 24.
Already in February, the parliament spoke out against a "unilateral recognition" of a Palestinian state. At the time, media reported that the US and other alliance partners could recognize a Palestinian state without Israeli approval. Germany and the US have emphasized that a Palestinian state must be agreed upon in peace negotiations with Israel. However, these negotiations have been at a standstill for over a decade.
The rejection of a Palestinian state by Israel's Parliament aligns with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's political stance. During his upcoming visit to the US, this decision could potentially stir tensions with some US Democrats, given their support for a two-state solution.
The Israeli Parliament's stance on the Israeli-War, as demonstrated by the recent vote, has long-standing implications for the Palestinian territories, as any recognition of a Palestinian state requires cooperation with Israel, which has been absent for over a decade.
