"Israeli Parliament Rejects Unilateral Recognition of Palestinian State"

The Israeli parliament has voted to support Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's rejection of any "unilateral" recognition of a Palestinian state, despite international calls for the revival of Palestinian statehood negotiations. This symbolic declaration, made during Israel's war on Gaza, received backing from the majority of lawmakers. The Israeli position insists that any permanent accord with the Palestinians must be reached through direct negotiations, not international dictates. The vote was condemned by the Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates, which accused Israel of holding the rights of the Palestinian people hostage. The ongoing expansion of illegal Israeli settlements in occupied territories remains a major obstacle to achieving a two-state solution.