Far-right Israeli minister visits Jerusalem holy site, a threat to sensitive Gaza cease-fire talks
PBS NewsHourJul 31
Israeli Knesset Overwhelming Votes Against Palestinian Statehood
Above: An Israeli tank moves along the border with the Gaza Strip as seen from a position on the Israeli side of the border on June 17, 2024 in Southern Israel, Israel. Image copyright: Amir Levy/Stringer/Getty Images News via Getty Images
The Facts
Israel's Knesset passed a resolution on Thursday rejecting the establishment of a Palestinian state, with 68 votes in favor and nine against in the 120-seat body.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition and right-wing parties sponsored the resolution, which also received support from Benny Gantz’s National Unity Party. Opposition Leader Yair Lapid’s Yesh Atid party abstained from the vote.
The Spin
Pro-establishment narrative
Though it may seem that it has never been as difficult to make peace, moderates must rise above the populist extremism of Hamas and the Israeli political right so the land can be shared. Both Israeli and Palestinian national aspirations are valid projects that deserve to be treated with respect and dignity. The two-state solution may not be the most equitable or desirable for either side, but it's the most achievable outcome.
Pro-Israel narrative
Hamas's Oct. 7 attack on Israel was the final nail in the coffin for the establishment of a Palestinian state. Since Israel withdrew from Gaza in 2005, the enclave has essentially existed as a terrorist-run proto-state. Given the Palestinian Authority's inefficacy, Israel has no partners for peace, and the last 20 years in Gaza prove this. A violent, terrorist-run Palestinian state would be an existential threat to Israel's security.
Pro-Palestine narrative
Israel killed the two-state solution a long time ago. There can't be a Palestinian state after nearly 75 years of Israeli policies effectively atomizing and dividing the Palestinian political scene and physical landscape via a system of apartheid and occupation. The only solution is to accept reality — Israel is an apartheid state that practices sovereignty over the region, and this apartheid must be dismantled so that all people residing in the land can live free as equals.