The Israeli Knesset approves the rejection of the establishment of a Palestinian state

Yesterday evening, Wednesday, the Israeli Knesset adopted a resolution rejecting the establishment of a Palestinian state, for the first time in the council’s history.

68 members supported the decision, including the leader of the Israeli National Unity Party, Benny Gantz, and his party’s deputies, while only 9 deputies opposed it.

According to Israeli media, the decision also received support from parties in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition and right-wing parties, while representatives from the Yesh Atid (There is a Future) party led by Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid left the session to avoid supporting the decision.

The resolution described the establishment of a Palestinian state following the events of October 7, 2023, as a “reward for terrorism” and would be an existential threat to Israel, indicating that Hamas would seize control of the Palestinian state and turn it into an “extremist Islamic terrorist base” in a short time.

It is noteworthy that the decision came days before Netanyahu’s visit to Washington to deliver a speech at a joint session of Congress and meet with US President Joe Biden at the White House. This decision is likely to upset Democrats who feel uncomfortable supporting an Israeli government that is increasingly rejecting the two-state solution.