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Knesset expected to ratify opposition to unilateral recognition of a Palestinian state

The Cabinet rejected any such ‘international diktat’ following reports that the U.S. is discussing the option with Arab states.

 By Batya Jerenberg, World Israel News

The Knesset is expected to ratify opposition Monday to unilateral recognition of a Palestinian state, following the Cabinet’s official rejection of such an ‘international diktat’.

The Israeli parliament’s move will lend additional credence to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s declaration that what the U.S. is proposing runs counter to the will of its ally’s people, which he reiterated on Sunday night when speaking to members of the Conference of Presidents of Major Jewish Organizations.

Reading from the text of the statement from the Prime Minister’s Office, he said, “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.”

The Oslo Accords, which is the only binding document on solving the age-old conflict, states that whatever final decision is made must be negotiated by the two sides. It does not even say that the end result “must” be a Palestinian state, leaving open other options such as some kind of confederation with Jordan, for example.

He then continued with the theme he has mentioned often since the Biden administration began pushing for the establishment of a Palestinian state that would also take over the running of the Gaza Strip on the “day after” Israel defeats Hamas.

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“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.”

He then added, “You should know that the people of Israel are really united on this.” The American Jewish leaders signified their agreement as well, applauding his words.

American diplomats have reportedly been discussing how to move forward with a Palestinian state in Arab capitals in the region. To sweeten the pot for Israel, such a plan would include Saudi Arabian recognition of Israel, which is assumed would lead to several other Arab countries coming aboard as well.

American Ambassador to Israel Jack Lew was in the audience as Netanyahu spoke, and denied that the U.S. would unilaterally recognize a State of Palestine.

“We have never said that was our policy,” he said. “Our policy is that there should be an over-the-horizon process” that involved Israel and would include “working to reform, revamp and revitalize the Palestinian Authority (PA)” so that it would be a “demilitarized Palestinian state that could live side by side in peace” with Israel.

PA President Mahmoud Abbas has yet to indicate any willingness to reform his administration, which is a proven terror supporter. His administration financially supports captured terrorists in its “pay for slay” policy and fields it own Fatah forces that boast of their attacks on Israelis. In addition, not only has the PA not condemned Hamas’ invasion of Israel and slaughter of 1,200 people, some of its officials have praised the massacre.

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The PA has even recently reiterated its call for Hamas to join the Palestine Liberation Organization, the umbrella group of many Palestinian factions that backs the PA, in order to “unify” the Palestinian people. On Sunday, Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh said, “One should not continue focusing on October 7” when asked how the PA could include those who ordered horrific war crimes such as beheading infants, brutalizing and raping scores of women, and burning whole families alive.