Israeli Parliament Overwhelming Votes 99-11 Against Any Unilateral Recognition of a Palestinian State
by Emmitt Barry, Worthy News Correspondent
(Worthy News) -The Israeli Knesset resoundingly passed a vote of 99-11 in favor of the government’s statement opposing the unilateral acknowledgment of a Palestinian state in response to rumors that Western nations, spearheaded by the Biden administration, are considering such a recognition.
Every member of the coalition, along with the majority of the opposition from the Yesh Atid, National Unity, and Yisrael Beiteinu parties, cast their votes in support of Sunday’s Cabinet declaration opposing “international mandates concerning a permanent resolution with the Palestinians.”
“I don’t remember many votes in which the Knesset voted by a majority of 99 out of 120 on any vote,” Netanyahu said after the vote.
“The Knesset united with a huge majority against the attempt to dictate to us the establishment of a Palestinian state, the vote sends a clear message to the international community – unilateral recognition will not bring peace closer but will push it further away,” Netanyahu added.
“The citizens of Israel and their representatives in the Knesset are more united today than before. We voted with a huge majority against a move that will endanger Israel and the achievement of peace before we achieve a complete victory against Hamas,” Netanyahu concluded.
However, opposition party leader Yair Lapid of the Yesh Atid Party criticized Netanyahu for pushing for the vote saying, “My party and I are against unilateral measures and therefore we voted for it, but you invented a threat that doesn’t exist. There is not a single party that offers recognition of the Palestinians, you invented a spin so that they don’t talk about the fact that you are guilty regarding the conscription law and the budget.”
The vote took place just three days after the Israeli cabinet vote unanimously against the recognition of a Palestinian State.
The text of measure approved by the Israeli cabinet and confirmed by the Knesset on Wednesday reads as follows:
1. Israel utterly rejects international diktats regarding a permanent settlement with the Palestinians. A settlement, if it is to be reached, will come about solely through direct negotiations between the parties, without preconditions.
2. Israel will continue to oppose unilateral recognition of a Palestinian state. Such recognition in the wake of the October 7th massacre would be a massive and unprecedented reward to terrorism and would prevent any future peace settlement.
The vote came as a reaction to media reports indicating that the Biden administration was exploring the possibility of unilaterally declaring a Palestinian State as a means to meet Saudi Arabia’s preconditions for a peace deal between Riyadh and Jerusalem.
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