The statement of the Knesset, adopted by sixty-eight votes in favor and nine against, opposes the establishment of a Palestinian state west of the Jordan River, i.e. in the territory of the West Bank captured from Jordan in 1967 under all circumstances, even as part of a possible negotiated settlement with Israel.
In addition to the members of the parties of the Israeli government coalition, the move was supported by several right-wing opposition representatives. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the centrist, opposition Van Jövő party led by Yair Lapid were not present at the vote.
The president and three representatives of Beni Ganz’s centrist National Camp party voted yes. The legislators of the social democratic Labor Party and the Arab parties voted no.
According to the text left in place, the creation of a Palestinian state “in the heart of the Land of Israel” would “pose an existential threat to Israel and its citizens”. it would perpetuate the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and destabilize the region. According to the rationale, after the establishment of Palestine, “it would only be a matter of time before Hamas (extremist Palestinian organization) would take over the Palestinian state and turn it into a base of radical Islamic terror and cooperate with the Iranian-led axis to eliminate Israel.”
Besides, according to the text after Hamas’ terrorist attack against Israel last October, the birth of the Palestinian state would be “a reward for terrorism”, and it would only encourage Hamas and other Islamist groups, which – the Knesset believes – would use the declaration of Palestine as a prelude to occupying the Middle East.
The adopted parliamentary declaration has no legal force.
The move came a few days before Benjamin Netanyahu’s trip to the US. In the coming days, Jerusalem is awaiting the opinion of the International Court of Justice in The Hague on the legality of Israeli control over the West Bank.
The cover image is an illustration. Cover image source: Getty Images
Source: www.portfolio.hu
