Israeli lawmakers have voted to back Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's rejection of any "unilateral" recognition of a Palestinian state as international calls have grown for the revival of Palestinian statehood negotiations.
Wednesday's symbolic declaration, issued during Israel's war on Gaza, also received backing from members of the opposition with 99 of 120 lawmakers voting in support, a Knesset spokesperson said, as per Al Jazeera.
Israeli Parliament Rejects External Mandates
BERLIN, GERMANY - MARCH 16: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz (not pictured) speak to the media following talks at the Chancellery on March 16, 2023 in Berlin, Germany. Netanyahu's one-day visit to Berlin is being accompanied by protests, including both by people angry over Israel’s policies towards Palestinians as well as those critical of possible new legislation in Israel supported by Netanyahu that would undermine the independence and the power of Israel's Supreme Court, effectively curtailing democracy in Israel.
The Israeli parliament decisively dismissed the idea of creating a Palestinian state through external mandates, including the value of direct talks between Israel and the Palestinians. According to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, representing the Knesset, these impositions do not lead to peace and also endanger the state of Israel.
The Palestinian Foreign Ministry immediately condemned the vote, alleging that Israel was impeding the rights of Palestinians by taking up territories necessary for a Palestinian state. The ministry confirmed that the recognition of the State of Palestine by various nations and its full membership in the United Nations do not need approval from Netanyahu.
Progress towards a two-state solution, envisioning a Palestinian state in the occupied West Bank and Gaza alongside Israel, has been minimal since the signing of the interim Oslo Accords in the early 1990s. A primary obstacle remains the expansion of Israeli settlements in territories captured during the 1967 Middle East war, widely regarded by most countries as a violation of international law.
The international community, particularly Western nations, has long supported the two-state solution. However, recent events, including the Gaza war in October, have prompted the United States to advocate for steps leading to the creation of a Palestinian state as part of a broader Middle East deal, involving normalization of relations between Israel and Arab states like Saudi Arabia, according to Philenews.
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UK Considers Recognizing Palestinian State
Despite opposition to Israel's military actions in the southern Gaza city of Rafah due to possible harm to civilians, powerful European figures have alluded to the possibility of early recognition of a Palestinian state. French President Emmanuel Macron highlighted the importance of acknowledging a Palestinian state, recognizing the long-suppressed aspirations of the Palestinian people.
British Foreign Minister David Cameron echoed this sentiment, suggesting that the UK could officially recognize a Palestinian state post-ceasefire in Gaza. However, Israel's ongoing military actions, including intensified operations in Khan Younis near Rafah, raise concerns about the humanitarian crisis and may impact international decisions.
The situation in Rafah, where approximately 1.5 million people are crammed close to the Egyptian border, worsens as Israel's military onslaught displaces numerous residents. Reports of airstrikes, naval attacks, and civilian casualties add to the mounting humanitarian crisis.
Furthermore, aid entering Gaza from Egypt has drastically reduced in the past two weeks, exacerbating the already dire situation. While Israel attributes the decline in aid deliveries to the United Nations, citing security concerns, the UN points to the collapse of security within Gaza, hindering the distribution of aid in the makeshift camps where most residents are confined, CBC News reported.
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