The Israeli cabinet has approved a motion rejecting any “international diktats” regarding a permanent settlement with the Palestinians, including the unilateral recognition of a Palestinian state.
Sunday’s unanimous vote rejected any steps towards statehood imposed on Israel by the international community, declaring that any settlement would come “solely through direct negotiations between the parties, without preconditions”.
It added that any recognition of Palestinian statehood in the wake of the Hamas attacks on Israel on October 7 in which 1,200 people were killed and 250 taken hostage “would give a huge reward to unprecedented terrorism”.