Israeli Lawmakers Reject Palestinian Statehood

Israel's parliament, the Knesset, has passed a resolution rejecting the establishment of a Palestinian state. The vote was overwhelmingly in favor of the resolution, with 68 members voting in support and only 9 against. The resolution states that the creation of a Palestinian state would pose an "existential danger" to Israel and its citizens, perpetuate the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and destabilize the region. This decision comes ahead of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's address to Congress next week, which has been met with criticism from Democratic lawmakers over Israel's actions in Gaza. The resolution was co-sponsored by parties within Netanyahu's coalition, including his Likud party.