Israel’s parliament voted early Thursday morning. against the creation of a Palestinian state “in principle”amid growing debate in the international community over the war in Gaza.

A resolution rejecting the possibility of creating a Palestinian state, supported by the parties of Benjamin Netanyahu’s right-wing coalition and other formations of the same opposition orientation, He came out ahead with 68 votes in favor and 9 against.

The centre-right National Unity party of the former Minister of War. Benny Gantz, now in the opposition, also voted for the resolution. This rejects a Palestinian state even in the context of negotiations with Israel.

“National Unity” is committed to any future political scenario that emerges, to preserve the Jewish and democratic identity of the State of Israel, and insist on their historical rights and security interests,” the group said in a statement.

Lawmakers from the centrist Ai Futuro party, the head of the opposition and a former prime minister, Yair Lapid left the plenary session before the vote: despite the fact that he spoke in favor of a two-state solution.

The only groups that advocated for a Palestinian state were The Labor Party and the Arab formations Raam and Hadash Taal.

The initiative was further developed just days before Netanyahu’s scheduled visit to the US to address a joint session of Congress on July 22 and also meet with President Joe Biden, a meeting that could be impacted after the US president tested positive for Covid-19.

Already in February, parliament approved a resolution proposed by Netanyahu himself. rejecting the creation of a Palestinian state, but this proposal specifically referred to the unilateral creation of such a state in the face of statements by several countries that were considering recognizing a Palestinian state in the absence of a peace agreement with Israel.

Eight countries have unilaterally recognized a Palestinian state in 2024 due to the lack of a diplomatic solution to the war in the Gaza Strip: Barbados, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, Bahamas, Spain, Ireland, Norway, Slovenia and Armenia.

The joint recognition of three EU countries – Spain, Ireland and Norway – has caused great anger in Israel, whichHe summoned his ambassadors for consultations.

Total 145 countries out of 193 which are part of the UN, have recognized the Palestinian state, a dozen of them belong to the European Union (EU).

Parliament of Israel strongly opposes the creation of a Palestinian state west of Jordan. “The establishment of a Palestinian state in the heart of the Land of Israel would create an existential threat to the State of Israel and its citizens, perpetuate the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and destabilize the region,” the resolution approved Thursday said.

“It will just be a question There is little time until Hamas takes over a Palestinian state and turn it into a base for radical Islamic terrorists in coordination with the Iran-led axis to destroy the State of Israel,” he adds.

The resolution considers that the promotion of the idea of ​​a Palestinian state is currently This is a “terrorism reward”. and will only encourage Hamas and its supporters to view this as a victory thanks to the October 7, 2023 massacre and a prelude to the takeover of jihadist Islam in the Middle East.”

Although the resolution received support from several right-wing parties, it was originally proposed the right-wing New Hope party, a breakaway from Netanyahu’s Likud, whose leader Gideon Sa’ar said its goal was “to express the general opposition of the Israeli people to a Palestinian state that would threaten Israel’s security and future.”

“This is a message to the international community that “Pressure to force a Palestinian state on Israel is futile,” he noted.

For his part, Palestinian National Authority (PNA) spokesman Nabil Abu Rudeineh insisted that without the creation of a Palestinian state with its capital in East Jerusalem “There will be no peace or security for anyone.”