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Israeli Parliament Votes Overwhelmingly Against Palestinian Statehood
A general view shows the plenum at the Knesset, Israel’s parliament, in Jerusalem, May 29, 2019. Photo: Reuters / Ronen Zvulun.
In a highly symbolic move, Israeli’s parliament, known as the Knesset, on Thursday easily approved a motion to reject Palestinian statehood west of the Jordan River.
The move came less than two months after three European countries officially recognized a Palestinian state and just days before Israeli Prime Minister Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is scheduled to visit the United States and address a joint session of the US Congress.
The resolution, sponsored by Ze’ev Elkin of the National Unity Party, declares that the Knesset “firmly opposes the establishment of a Palestinian state west of the Jordan” and that a Palestinian state “in the heart of the Land of Israel would pose an existential danger to the State of Israel and its citizens, perpetuate the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and destabilize the region.”
“Promoting the idea of a Palestinian state at this time,” the resolution continues, “would be a reward for terrorism and would only encourage Hamas and its supporters, who will view this as a victory thanks to the massacre of Oct. 7, 2023.”
Hamas-led Palestinian terrorists invaded southern Israel from neighboring Gaza on Oct. 7, murdering 1,200 people and abducting about 250 others as hostages. Israel responded with an ongoing military campaign in Gaza, which is ruled by Hamas, aimed at freeing the hostages and dismantling the Palestinian terrorist group’s military and governing capabilities.
A Palestinian state, according to the resolution, would be a springboard for a new wave of terrorist factions like Hamas.
“We will not be able to convince our friends in the world unless we will speak clearly against the establishment of a Palestinian state, which is a threat to the State of Israel,” Gideon Sa’ar, head of the New Hope-United Right faction, told fellow lawmakers while debating the resolution. “There will be no foreign sovereignty west of the Jordan [River]; there cannot be. Every area we withdraw from becomes a terror zone.”
Israel withdrew all its troops and civilian settlers from Gaza in 2005.
Mansour Abbas, part of the United Arab List party, firmly opposed the resolution in the Knesset, arguing that a successful peace agreement with the Palestinians requires the stability of a state. “A peace agreement cannot be reached with an organization or with factions,” he told the Knesset. “You should have first of all made sure to establish a sovereign, independent Palestinian state, and then signed a peace agreement with it.”
The resolution passed in a 68-9 vote after receiving widespread support from Netanyahu’s coalition as well as right-wing parties from the opposition and Benny Gantz’s centrist National Unity party.
Several countries condemned the Knesset’s resolution. In a statement, France’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs “expressed dismay” at the measure, arguing “only a two-state solution can bring a just and lasting peace to both Israelis and Palestinians.”
Australia’s Minister for Foreign Affairs Penny Wong declared on X/Twitter: “A secure and prosperous future for both Israelis and Palestinians will only come with a two-state solution,” adding, “Today’s Knesset vote denies this reality.”
The vote could be a point of discussion when Netanyahu travels to the US next week. US President Joe Biden has repeatedly declared his support for a two-state solution to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Israeli officials have countered now is not the time to push for the establishment of a Palestinian state, noting Gaza is ruled by Hamas while the West Bank is governed by the Palestinian Authority (PA), which has long been riddled with allegations of corruption and authoritarianism.
Recent polling has found that the Palestinian people in both Gaza and the West Bank generally support the Oct. 7 massacre, want Hamas to remain in power in Gaza, and would back Hamas over the PA’s ruling Fatah party in elections.
However, Spain, Norway, and Ireland officially recognized a Palestinian state in May, arguing such a move would help foster a two-state solution and lead to lasting peace in the region. They noted that the ongoing Israel-Hamas war in Gaza accelerated their plans.
The post Israeli Parliament Votes Overwhelmingly Against Palestinian Statehood first appeared on Algemeiner.com.
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After False Dawns, Gazans Hope Trump Will Force End to Two-Year-Old War
Palestinians walk past a residential building destroyed in previous Israeli strikes, after Hamas agreed to release hostages and accept some other terms in a US plan to end the war, in Nuseirat, central Gaza Strip October 4, 2025. Photo: REUTERS/Mahmoud Issa
Exhausted Palestinians in Gaza clung to hopes on Saturday that US President Donald Trump would keep up pressure on Israel to end a two-year-old war that has killed tens of thousands and displaced the entire population of more than two million.
Hamas’ declaration that it was ready to hand over hostages and accept some terms of Trump’s plan to end the conflict while calling for more talks on several key issues was greeted with relief in the enclave, where most homes are now in ruins.
“It’s happy news, it saves those who are still alive,” said 32-year-old Saoud Qarneyta, reacting to Hamas’ response and Trump’s intervention. “This is enough. Houses have been damaged, everything has been damaged, what is left? Nothing.”
GAZAN RESIDENT HOPES ‘WE WILL BE DONE WITH WARS’
Ismail Zayda, 40, a father of three, displaced from a suburb in northern Gaza City where Israel launched a full-scale ground operation last month, said: “We want President Trump to keep pushing for an end to the war, if this chance is lost, it means that Gaza City will be destroyed by Israel and we might not survive.
“Enough, two years of bombardment, death and starvation. Enough,” he told Reuters on a social media chat.
“God willing this will be the last war. We will hopefully be done with the wars,” said 59-year-old Ali Ahmad, speaking in one of the tented camps where most Palestinians now live.
“We urge all sides not to backtrack. Every day of delay costs lives in Gaza, it is not just time wasted, lives get wasted too,” said Tamer Al-Burai, a Gaza City businessman displaced with members of his family in central Gaza Strip.
After two previous ceasefires — one near the start of the war and another earlier this year — lasted only a few weeks, he said; “I am very optimistic this time, maybe Trump’s seeking to be remembered as a man of peace, will bring us real peace this time.”
RESIDENT WORRIES THAT NETANYAHU WILL ‘SABOTAGE’ DEAL
Some voiced hopes of returning to their homes, but the Israeli military issued a fresh warning to Gazans on Saturday to stay out of Gaza City, describing it as a “dangerous combat zone.”
Gazans have faced previous false dawns during the past two years, when Trump and others declared at several points during on-off negotiations between Hamas, Israel and Arab and US mediators that a deal was close, only for war to rage on.
“Will it happen? Can we trust Trump? Maybe we trust Trump, but will Netanyahu abide this time? He has always sabotaged everything and continued the war. I hope he ends it now,” said Aya, 31, who was displaced with her family to Deir Al-Balah in the central Gaza Strip.
She added: “Maybe there is a chance the war ends at October 7, two years after it began.”
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Mass Rally in Rome on Fourth Day of Italy’s Pro-Palestinian Protests
A Pro-Palestinian demonstrator waves a Palestinian flag during a national protest for Gaza in Rome, Italy, October 4, 2025. Photo: REUTERS/Claudia Greco
Large crowds assembled in central Rome on Saturday for the fourth straight day of protests in Italy since Israel intercepted an international flotilla trying to deliver aid to Gaza, and detained its activists.
People holding banners and Palestinian flags, chanting “Free Palestine” and other slogans, filed past the Colosseum, taking part in a march that organizers hoped would attract at least 1 million people.
“I’m here with a lot of other friends because I think it is important for us all to mobilize individually,” Francesco Galtieri, a 65-year-old musician from Rome, said. “If we don’t all mobilize, then nothing will change.”
Since Israel started blocking the flotilla late on Wednesday, protests have sprung up across Europe and in other parts of the world, but in Italy they have been a daily occurrence, in multiple cities.
On Friday, unions called a general strike in support of the flotilla, with demonstrations across the country that attracted more than 2 million, according to organizers. The interior ministry estimated attendance at around 400,000.
Italy’s right-wing government has been critical of the protests, with Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni suggesting that people would skip work for Gaza just as an excuse for a longer weekend break.
On Saturday, Meloni blamed protesters for insulting graffiti that appeared on a statue of the late Pope John Paul II outside Rome’s main train station, where Pro-Palestinian groups have been holding a protest picket.
“They say they are taking to the streets for peace, but then they insult the memory of a man who was a true defender and builder of peace. A shameful act committed by people blinded by ideology,” she said in a statement.
Israel launched its Gaza offensive after Hamas terrorists staged a cross border attack on October 7, 2023, killing some 1,200 people and taking 251 people hostage.
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Hamas Says It Agrees to Release All Israeli Hostages Under Trump Gaza Plan
Smoke rises during an Israeli military operation in Gaza City, as seen from the central Gaza Strip, October 2, 2025. Photo: REUTERS/Dawoud Abu Alkas
Hamas said on Friday it had agreed to release all Israeli hostages, alive or dead, under the terms of US President Donald Trump’s Gaza proposal, and signaled readiness to immediately enter mediated negotiations to discuss the details.