In a significant move reflecting the shifting attitudes towards a two-state solution, Israel's parliament, the Knesset, voted overwhelmingly against the establishment of a Palestinian state. Out of the 120-member legislative body, 68 lawmakers supported the resolution that deemed a Palestinian state would pose an "existential danger" to Israel, while 9 members opposed it, and others abstained.

The timing of this vote, just as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is preparing for his visit to the United States, raises concerns among Democrats expected to attend his speech to Congress. Bilal Y. Saab, an expert in U.S.-Middle East relations, suggests that this decision could complicate President Joe Biden's position within his own party. The vote may also indicate Israeli lawmakers' confidence in future U.S. leadership, possibly banking on "the next president being Donald Trump" and choosing to align themselves with the Republican Party.

As the Biden administration seeks to negotiate a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, tensions further escalated when Israel's far-right national security minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, visited Jerusalem's profoundly sacred Al-Aqsa Mosque. The move, seen as a provocation by Hamas, drew swift condemnation from the organization, labeling it a "dangerous provocation and escalation."

The resolution against a Palestinian statehood was co-sponsored by members of Netanyahu's coalition government, which includes far-right parties. Notably, Knesset members from opposition leader Yair Lapid's center-left Yesh Atid party abstained from voting, despite Lapid's previous support for a two-state solution. The nine lawmakers who voted in favor of a Palestinian state belonged to the leftist Hadash-Ta'al and Labor parties, as well as Ra'am, a conservative Islamist party.

The resolution explicitly states that the Knesset firmly opposes the establishment of a Palestinian state west of the Jordan River, citing concerns over the country's security, perpetuation of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and regional destabilization.

This vote highlights the deepening decline in support for a two-state solution within Israeli society. It remains to be seen how this decision will impact Netanyahu's upcoming meetings with President Biden and his address to Congress. As regional tensions rise, it is crucial for diplomatic efforts to find a peaceful resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict to continue.