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 towards 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 towards 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 towards the institution of a Palestinian State . No zionist occasion from each the federal government and the opposition voted towards 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 aspect by aspect with an Israeli state.
However Israel has continued to undertake insurance policies corresponding 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 legislation 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 legislation.
“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 carry safety and peace within the area,” learn an announcement citing the ministry’s spokesperson Sufyan al-Qudah.
The Occasions of Israel quoted the decision as saying: “It can 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 remove the State of Israel.”
It added {that a} Palestinian state at the moment 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, nonetheless, isn’t 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 handle the US Congress subsequent week in Washington, DC, which has brought about divisions amongst Democratic Occasion lawmakers who’ve spoken out towards Israel’s conduct in its conflict on Gaza.
On Wednesday, United Nations Secretary-Normal 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 workers, Courtenay Rattray, throughout a gathering of the UN Safety Council.
“Current developments are driving a stake by the guts 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 legislation and an impediment to peace with Palestinians.