Israel's Knesset overwhelmingly backs resolution rejecting Palestinian statehood

Israeli lawmakers on Thursday voted overwhelmingly to reject the establishment of a Palestinian state, backing a resolution co-sponsored by extreme right-wing groups from the governing coalition and the opposition by 68-9.

The motion was also backed by MKs from Benny Gantz's 'centrist' party, while lawmakers from opposition leader Yair Lapid's Yesh Atid bloc left the assembly to abstain from voting.

Lawmakers from Labor and the Palestinian Hadash-Ta’al and Ra'am parties were the only ones to oppose the resolution.

The resolution rejects the creation of a Palestinian state, even as part of a negotiated settlement - further cementing a de-facto position already held by many Israeli leaders, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

"The Knesset of Israel firmly opposes the establishment of a Palestinian state west of Jordan. The establishment of a Palestinian state in the heart of the Land of Israel will pose an existential danger to the State of Israel and its citizens, perpetuate the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and destabilise the region," the resolution said.

"Promoting the idea of ​​a Palestinian state at this time will be a reward for terrorism and will only encourage Hamas and its supporters to see this as a victory, thanks to the massacre of October 7, 2023, and a prelude to the takeover of jihadist Islam in the Middle East."

A similar resolution sponsored by Netanyahu was passed in February, rejecting the unilateral establishment of a Palestinian state.

The move comes days ahead of Netanyahu's trip to the US, where he will meeting with President Joe Biden and deliver an address to Congress.

While Israel enjoys broad support from across the floor in Congress, some Democrats have become increasingly uneasy with the ongoing war in Gaza, where Israeli forces have killed close to 38,800 Palestinians and left some 89,000 wounded.

Leading Democrats, including Senate Majority leader Chuck Schumer and Bernie Sanders, have focussed criticism on Netanyahu, while avoiding direct censure of the Israeli state.

For many Palestinians and supporters of their cause,  however, Thursday's Knesset vote would appear to further confirm long-held suspicions that a broad spectrum of Israel's political class is not interested in long-term peace.

Some Democrats have said they will boycott Netanyahu's 24 July address to Congress, while many have emphasised that their attendance will be out of respect for an allied nation.

During Netanyahu's last address to Congress in 2015, nearly 60 Democrats skipped the speech, with many more expected to do so this time.

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