Israeli Knesset votes overwhelmingly on draft resolution rejecting Palestinian state
The Israeli Knesset Plenum approved at dawn on Thursday an overwhelming majority of a draft resolution rejecting the establishment of a Palestinian state, after the decision taken by the Knesset on February to reject unilateral international recognition of the Palestinian state.
The resolution states that “the Knesset strongly opposes the establishment of a Palestinian state in western Jordan,” and considers that “the establishment of a Palestinian state in the heart of Israel land would pose an existential threat to the state of Israel and its citizens, perpetuating the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and destabilizing the region”.
The draft resolution was introduced by Knesset member Ze’ev Elkin of the Official Right bloc and received support from the opposition and coalition, including the Official Right parties, Likud, the National Camp, Shas, United Torah Judaism, Otzma Yehudit, Yisrael Beiteinu and Religious Zionism.
Commenting on the adoption of the resolution by the Knesset Plenum, Gideon Sa’ar, head of the “Official Right” party, said that the resolution “aims to express the overall opposition that exists among the Israeli people to the establishment of a Palestinian state that would endanger the security and future of Israel”.
He added, “the resolution represents an Israeli message to the international community, stating that international pressure aimed at imposing a Palestinian state on Israel won’t work.
On February 21, the Knesset voted overwhelmingly in favor of the government’s decision to reject unilateral recognition of the Palestinian state, a resolution that received the support of 99 Knesset members, while 9 members voted against.
