Israel's Knesset passes resolution rejecting two-state solution

Vote comes ahead of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's trip to Washington

The Israeli Knesset during a meeting in Jerusalem. AFP

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Israel's parliament on Wednesday night passed a resolution rejecting a two-state solution and declaring the establishment of a Palestinian state "an existential danger to the state of Israel".

The Knesset motion, which has no legal weight, was passed with 68 votes in favour and nine against.

The move rejected the establishment of an independent Palestinian state, even as part of a peace agreement.

The text, introduced by Knesset member Ze'ev Elkin of the New Hope – United Right faction, stated an independent Palestinian state would "perpetuate the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and destabilise the region".

It received support across the political spectrum, backed by legislators from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's right-wing coalition and the centrist National Unity party, led by Benny Gantz.

Mr Netanyahu was not present for the vote, which came a day before his controversial trip to Washington and an impending ruling from the International Court of Justice on Israel's occupation of the West Bank.

New Hope leader Gideon Sa'ar, a former member of Mr Netanyahu's Likud party, said the vote "intended to express the blanket opposition that exists among the [Israeli] people to the establishment of a Palestinian state, which would endanger Israel's security and future".

The Joint Arab List party submitted an opposing text on Wednesday that promotes the establishment of a Palestinian State along the 1948 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital, and a ceasefire in Gaza. But the proposal was rejected.

Waleed Alhwashla, an Arab-Israeli MP and a member of The Joint Arab List party told The National the rejection will not change any realities on the ground.

"Israel will continue to illegally seize land and commit other acts against Palestinians – so we're not going to see a big difference in daily life. It is simply a symbolic decision, which can be cancelled if there's the political will to do so."

The purpose of Wednesday's Knesset vote was to limit Mr Netanyahu's ability to make concessions in the US, Mr Alhwashla said.

"Netanyahu is held hostage by extremist right wing politicians like [Bezalel] Smotrich and [Itamar] Ben-Gvir.

"Now when he goes to the US, he will not be able to make major concessions because his hands are tied. He will have to defer back to the Knesset for any decisions."

A spokesman for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said there would be "no peace or security for anyone" without the establishment of a Palestinian state.

"Our independent state does not require permission or legitimacy from anyone," Nabil Abu Rudeineh was quoted by the official Wafa news agency as saying.

The resolution confirms "the insistence of Israel and its ruling coalition on pushing the entire region into the abyss", he said. The Israeli government "is not interested in peace, which will not be achieved without establishing an independent Palestinian state", he added.

In February, the Knesset passed a resolution rejecting the unilateral establishment of a Palestinian state west of the Jordan river.

Nations around the world, including Spain, Norway, and Ireland, have formally recognised Palestinian statehood as Israel's war on Gaza rages and the death toll climbs.

Mr Elkin said promoting the idea of a Palestinian state "would be a reward for terrorism and will only encourage Hamas and its supporters".

"It will only be a matter of a short time until Hamas takes over the Palestinian state and turns it into a radical Islamic terrorist base, working in co-ordination with the Iranian-led axis, to eliminate the State of Israel," he wrote in a post on X that included an image of the vote results.

Ultra-Orthodox to dodge army draft notices

The vote also comes as anti-government anger continues to rage, with daily protests demanding Mr Netanyahu reach a hostage deal and Ultra-Orthodox or Haredim protesting against the end of an long-standing army exemption which had fractured the government.

Rabbis for the Ultra-Orthodox Shas Party have urged followers to ignore an army draft set to begin on Sunday, after Israel's High Court last month ruled Haredim men must serve in the military.

Draft notices are the first stage of the enlistment process, which is to be carried out over the coming year.

"While no legislation has been agreed on the status of the yeshiva students, do not answer any draft orders including initial orders and you should not show up at draft centres,” Israeli media quoted the Shas Council of Torah Sages as saying.

While public debate has long been divided over the exemption, anger peaked after the Hamas-led October 7 attack on southern Israel and reservist call-ups, as Israel invaded Gaza that month.

Pro-army activist groups that oppose the exemption have staged protests in Ultra-Orthodox cities in the past month, Israeli media has reported.

About 3,000 men are expected to be called up in the initial draft. The Haredim community say army service is incompatible with their way of life, in which men do not work and instead study the Torah at religious schools.