Israeli Lawmakers Reject Unilateral Recognition of Palestinian State
In a symbolic move, Israeli lawmakers have voted to support Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s rejection of any “unilateral” recognition of a Palestinian state. The vote, which received backing from members of the opposition as well, signifies Israel’s stance that any permanent accord with the Palestinians must be reached through direct negotiations between the two parties.
The decision comes amidst growing international calls for the revival of Palestinian statehood negotiations. However, Netanyahu has openly stated his opposition to a Palestinian state and positioned himself as a bulwark against its establishment. Since 2014, when Israel refused to accept a state encompassing all of the Palestinian territory occupied by Israel, talks on Palestinian statehood have not taken place.
“The Knesset came together in an overwhelming majority against the attempt to impose on us the establishment of a Palestinian state, which would not only fail to bring peace but would endanger the state of Israel,” Netanyahu stated.
The Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates condemned the vote, accusing Israel of holding the rights of the Palestinian people hostage through its occupation of territories where Palestinians seek to establish a state. The ministry emphasized that Palestine’s full membership in the United Nations and its recognition by other nations do not require permission from Netanyahu.
Willem Marx, reporting from occupied East Jerusalem, explained that there have been calls from senior figures worldwide for Palestinian statehood to be recognized as part of any long-term agreement to end the ongoing bloodshed. The recent parliamentary vote was seen as a symbolic message from Netanyahu to the world, asserting that Israelis are united against the imposition of Palestinian statehood by external powers.
The prospects for a two-state solution, which involves establishing a Palestinian state in the occupied West Bank and Gaza alongside Israel, have made little progress since the signing of the interim Oslo Accords in the early 1990s. One of the main obstacles to Palestinian statehood is the expansion of illegal Israeli settlements in the territories captured by Israel in the 1967 Arab-Israeli War. These settlements, which often separate Palestinian communities, are considered a violation of international law.
The two-state solution has long been a core policy in the Western world. The United States, particularly since the outbreak of the latest Gaza war in October, has been pushing for steps towards the creation of a Palestinian state as part of a broader Middle East deal that would involve Saudi Arabia and other Arab states normalizing relations with Israel. However, critics argue that Israel’s actions, such as the expansion of settlements, have made the prospect of a sovereign Palestinian state impossible and increased the likelihood of a one-state future, either through continued occupation or a state with equal rights for all.
