2024-07-18 17:04:29
The Israeli Knesset voted on a resolution “rejecting the establishment of a Palestinian state in the area west of the Jordan.”
According to the Times of Israel, 68 members voted in favor of the resolution and 9 members opposed it. The resolution states that “the Knesset strongly opposes the establishment of a Palestinian state west of the Jordan,” and considers that “the establishment of a Palestinian state in the heart of the Land of Israel would pose an existential threat to the State of Israel and its citizens, and would perpetuate the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and destabilize the region.”
In context, and in the latest developments in the situation in Gaza, The American website “Axios” revealed, quoting 3 Israeli and American officials, that “the United States, Israel and the Palestinian Authority held a secret meeting” last week, for the first time since October 7, to discuss reopening the Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt, as part of the ceasefire agreement.”
According to the Axios website, “The meeting held in Tel Aviv was attended by the US Special Envoy to the Middle East, Brett McGurk, the Director of the Israeli Internal Security Service (Shabak), Ronen Bar, the Secretary of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization, Hussein al-Sheikh, and the Director of Palestinian Authority Intelligence, Majed Faraj.”
Informed sources said that the Israeli side “emphasized during the meeting that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejects any official intervention by the Palestinian Authority in the Rafah crossing.”
She added that the Israelis “pressured senior aides to Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas to agree to send forces to the crossing unofficially, which the Palestinian side rejected.”
Israeli and American officials who spoke to Axios said that while they understand the Palestinian Authority’s objections to this proposal, they still believe it is in the Palestinian Authority’s interest to have a foothold in Gaza, even in an unofficial capacity.
It is noteworthy that the Rafah crossing is the main land entry point for humanitarian aid to Gaza, and the only land link between the Strip and a country other than Israel. It has been closed since Israel took control of it in early May, against the backdrop of the large-scale military operation it is waging in the city of Rafah in the southern part of the Strip.
The number of people killed in the ongoing Israeli war on the Gaza Strip since October 7 has risen to more than 38,794 dead and 89,364 wounded.
Last updated: July 18, 2024 – 09:22
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2024-07-18 17:04:29