Israel’s parliament passed a resolution rejecting Palestinian statehood. The lawmakers believe that the creation of a Palestinian state will be an existential threat to Israel. Further adding that supporting a Palestinian state would only encourage Hamas and its supporters. The resolution was passed with an overwhelming majority of 68 votes to 9 in the 120 member Knesset. This vote came days ahead of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s planned address in the US Congress.
The decision has been criticized by Palestinian authority and international community too. The resolution was in contradiction with many UN Security Council resolutions as well as a complete disregard of international law.
The war in Gaza has put renewed focus on the two-state solution for the Israel-Palestine conflict. The war that started on Oct 7 2023 has escalated to a humanitarian catastrophe for the people of Palestinians. There is no way of rebuilding Gaza without steps towards providing Palestine statehood.
This move by the Knesset is a declaration of the death of Oslo Agreement which was signed between Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) and Israeli leaders in 1933. Oslo Accords, a peace deal that led to the Israelis recognizing PLO as the legitimate representative of Palestine and alongside PLO recognized Israel’s right to exist in peace.
What was the two-state solution proposed by the UN ?
Conflict occurred in British-ruled Palestine between Arabs and Jews who had migrated to the area seeking to build their own state as they fled prosecution under the rule of Nazi Germany.
In 1947, the United Nations passed a resolution outlining a partition plan to divide the area between Arab and Jewish states with Jerusalem under international rule. The UN’s proposed plan was never materialized.
International community strived to establish a Palestinian state within the territories occupied by Israel in the 1967 war. While President Netanyahu never was in favor of a two-state solution, it has had support from the US, the UK, European states, Australia, Canada, and others.
How has Israel occupied Palestinian territories over the course of time?
The state of Israel was declared on May 14, 1948, following its creation it was attacked by five Arab states that were Egypt, Jordan, Iraq, Syria and Lebanon, also called First Arab-Israeli war. Israel, a nascent state, surprisingly won and gained most of the territory.
Around 700,000 of Palestinians had to flee their homes seeking shelter in neighbouring states Jordan, Lebanon and Syria as well as in the Gaza strip, the west bank and East Jerusalem.
Again in the Six-day war of 1967 , Israel ended up capturing the Gaza strip and the Sinai desert from Egypt, the Golan Heights from Syria, and the west bank and East Jerusalem from Jordan.
In the Yom-Kippur war of 1973, where to catch Israel off guard, Egypt and Syria launched an attack on Yom Kippur religious holiday. Counterattack by Israeli forces turned the tide in favor of Israel. Henry Kissinger flew country to country to establish a peace agreement, which came to be known as ‘Shuttle Diplomacy’. Eventually Egypt and Syria regained some portion of their land and buffer zones were established.
As of now Palestinians territories or we can say territories occupied since the 1967 war by Israel are the West Bank, East Jerusalem, the Gaza strip and some portion of Golan Heights.
ICJ declares Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territories is unlawful
The advisory opinion given by ICJ declares Israeli presence in the West Bank and East Jerusalem as illegal and orders to withdraw as soon as possible. Though decision of ICJ is not binding but carries weight under international law.
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