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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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Lebanon Must Disarm Hezbollah to Have a Shot at Better Days, Says US Envoy
Thomas Barrack at the Brooklyn Federal Courthouse in Brooklyn, New York, U.S., November 4, 2022. Photo: REUTERS/Brendan McDermid/File Photo
i24 News – Lebanon’s daunting social, economic and political issues would not get resolved unless the state persists in the efforts to disarm Hezbollah, the Iranian proxy behind so much of the unrest and destruction, special US envoy Tom Barrack told The National.
“You have Israel on one side, you have Iran on the other, and now you have Syria manifesting itself so quickly that if Lebanon doesn’t move, it’s going to be Bilad Al Sham again,” he said, using the historical Arabic name for the region sometimes known as “larger Syria.”
The official stressed the need to follow through on promises to disarm the Iranian proxy, which suffered severe blows from Israel in the past year, including the elimination of its entire leadership, and is considered a weakened though still dangerous jihadist outfit.
“There are issues that we have to arm wrestle with each other over to come to a final conclusion. Remember, we have an agreement, it was a great agreement. The problem is, nobody followed it,” he told The National.
Barrack spoke on the heels of a trip to Beirut, where he proposed a diplomatic plan for the region involving the full disarmament of Hezbollah by the Lebanese state.
The post Lebanon Must Disarm Hezbollah to Have a Shot at Better Days, Says US Envoy first appeared on Algemeiner.com.
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Report: Putin Urges Iran to Accept ‘Zero Enrichment’ Nuclear Deal With US
Russian President Vladimir Putin meets Iranian counterpart Masoud Pezeshkian on the sidelines of a cultural forum dedicated to the 300th anniversary of the birth of the Turkmen poet and philosopher Magtymguly Fragi, in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, Oct. 11, 2024. Photo: Sputnik/Alexander Scherbak/Pool via REUTERS
i24 News – Russian President Vladimir Putin has told Iranian leadership that he supports the idea of a nuclear deal in which Iran is unable to enrich uranium, the Axios website reported on Saturday. The Russian strongman also relayed the message to his American counterpart, President Donald Trump, the report said.
Iranian news agency Tasnim issued a denial, citing an “informed source” as saying Putin had not sent any message to Iran in this regard.
Also on Saturday, Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated that “Any negotiated solution must respect Iran’s right to enrichment. No agreement without recognizing our right to enrichment. If negotiations occur, the only topic will be the nuclear program. No other issues, especially defense or military matters, will be on the agenda.”
The post Report: Putin Urges Iran to Accept ‘Zero Enrichment’ Nuclear Deal With US first appeared on Algemeiner.com.
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Syria’s Al-Sharaa Attending At Least One Meeting With Israeli Officials in Azerbaijan
Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa speaks during a joint press conference with French President Emmanuel Macron after a meeting at the Elysee Palace in Paris, France, May 7, 2025. Photo: REUTERS/Stephanie Lecocq/Pool
i24 News – Syrian President Ahmed Al-Sharaa is attending at least one meeting with Israeli officials in Azerbaijan today, despite sources in Damascus claiming he wasn’t attending, a Syrian source close to President Al-Sharaa tells i24NEWS.
The Syrian source stated that this is a series of two or three meetings between the sides, with Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani also in attendance, along with Ahmed Al-Dalati, the Syrian government’s liaison for security meetings with Israel.
The high-level Israeli delegation includes a special envoy of Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, as well as security and military figures.
The purpose of the meetings is to discuss further details of the security agreement to be signed between Israel and Syria, the Iranian threat in Syria and Lebanon, Hezbollah’s weapons, the weapons of Palestinian militias, the Palestinians camps in Lebanon, and the future of Palestinian refugees from Gaza in the region.
The possibility of opening an Israeli coordination office in Damascus, without diplomatic status, might also be discussed.
The source stated that the decision to hold the meetings in Azerbaijan, made by Israel and the US, is intended to send a message to Iran.
The post Syria’s Al-Sharaa Attending At Least One Meeting With Israeli Officials in Azerbaijan first appeared on Algemeiner.com.