https://arab.news/ckmsu
- Resolution is symbolic but lays down marker before Netanyahu鈥檚 Washington trip
- Palestinian state would cause existential danger to Israel and its citizens, says resolution
JERUSALEM: An Israeli parliament vote to oppose a Palestinian state as an 鈥渆xistential threat,鈥� just days ahead of a visit by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to Washington, brought Palestinian and international criticism on Thursday.
The 120-member Knesset late on Wednesday passed by 68 votes to nine a resolution that said a Palestinian state on land occupied by Israel would 鈥減erpetuate the Israel-Palestinian conflict and destabilize the region.鈥�
The resolution is symbolic but lays down a marker before Netanyahu鈥檚 Washington trip as well as an opinion to be issued by the International Court of Justice over the legality of Israel鈥檚 occupation of the West Bank.
鈥淭he Knesset firmly opposes the creation of a Palestinian state (on land) west of Jordan,鈥� said the resolution, referring to the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, which has been devastated by the war unleashed by the October 7 Hamas attacks.
鈥淭he creation of a Palestinian state in the heart of the land of Israel would constitute an existential danger for the state of Israel and its citizens, would perpetuate the Israel-Palestinian conflict and destabilize the region.鈥�
It predicted that Hamas would take over the state and turn it into 鈥渁 radical Islamic terrorist base鈥� seeking to destroy Israel.
The resolution said 鈥減romoting鈥� a Palestinian state was 鈥渁 reward for terrorism and would only encourage Hamas and its supporters鈥� after the October 7 attacks.
The Palestinian Authority said there would be 鈥渘either peace nor security for anyone without the establishment of a Palestinian state.鈥� It accused Israel鈥檚 ruling coalition of 鈥減lunging the region into an abyss.鈥�
The French foreign ministry expressed 鈥渃onsternation鈥� at the resolution that it said was 鈥渋n contradiction with resolutions adopted by the UN Security Council.鈥�
The Knesset voted by an even larger majority in February against countries unilaterally backing a Palestinian state. Spain, Ireland, Norway and Armenia have since said they recognized a Palestinian state.
The latest Knesset resolution was proposed by a right-wing deputy in opposition to Netanyahu鈥檚 coalition of conservative and far-right parties. However, coalition deputies and some centrist lawmakers voted in favor.