The Israeli cabinet unanimously approved a statement rejecting all “international dictates” seeking to push Palestinian statehood, which it termed as equivalent to a “massive and&nbsp;unprecedented prize for terror” that would prevent any future peace deal.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday (Feb 18) said that his government would vote on a "declaratory decision" about Israel's resistance to the imposition of Palestinian independence by force.

At the start of the weekly cabinet meeting, Netanyahu said that this move comes after "recent talk in the international community about an attempt to unilaterally impose on Israel a Palestinian state."

He said the formal statement would reflect that, "Israel rejects outright international dictates regarding a permanent arrangement with the Palestinians. Such an arrangement can only be reached in direct negotiations between the sides, without preconditions."&nbsp;

"Israel will continue to oppose a unilateral recognition of a Palestinian state. Such a recognition, following the massacre of October 7, will give terrorism a huge reward, a reward like no other, and will prevent any future peace agreement," the Israeli prime minister said.

The ongoing war in the Gaza Strip, which&nbsp;raged&nbsp;after Hamas launched unprecedented attacks against Israel on Oct 7, is the latest in the conflicts between Israelis and Palestinians that have reverberated for over seven decades and destabilised the Middle East.

Since 2014, attempts to establish a Palestinian state alongside Israel in the West Bank and Gaza have been stalled.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/prospects-for-new-pause-in-gaza-war-not-promising-qatar-691370">Prospects for new pause in Gaza war not promising: Qatar</a>

United States President Joe Biden has been attempting to broker a more comprehensive agreement that would see the establishment of a Palestinian state in addition to Saudi Arabia and other Arab nations restoring diplomatic relations with Israel.

<h2>US threatens to veto ceasefire proposal at UNSC for third time</h2>

Meanwhile, the US has signalled it would veto an Algerian push at the UN Security Council (UNSC) to demand an urgent ceasefire in the ongoing Israel-Hamas war.&nbsp;

The vote at the 15-member body is scheduled to take place on Tuesday (Feb 20) and the draft of the proposal was put forward two weeks ago. US Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield said the text could sabotage ongoing “sensitive negotiations” aimed at hammering out a peace deal.

For Algeria’s proposal to get adopted, at least nine members need to vote in favour, in addition to no vetoes by the permanent members—the US, UK, China, Russia and France.

“The United States does not support action on this draft resolution. Should it come up for a vote as drafted, it will not be adopted,” Thomas-Greenfield says in a statement Saturday.

(With inputs from agencies)

The Israeli cabinet unanimously approved a statement rejecting all “international dictates” seeking to push Palestinian statehood, which it termed as equivalent to a “massive and unprecedented prize for terror” that would prevent any future peace deal.

The Israeli cabinet unanimously approved a statement rejecting all “international dictates” seeking to push Palestinian statehood, which it termed as equivalent to a “massive and unprecedented prize for terror” that would prevent any future peace deal. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday (Feb 18) said that his government would vote on a "declaratory decision" about Israel's resistance to the imposition of Palestinian independence by force. At the start of the weekly cabinet meeting, Netanyahu said that this move comes after "recent talk in the international community about an attempt to unilaterally impose on Israel a Palestinian state." He said the formal statement would reflect that, "Israel rejects outright international dictates regarding a permanent arrangement with the Palestinians. Such an arrangement can only be reached in direct negotiations between the sides, without preconditions." "Israel will continue to oppose a unilateral recognition of a Palestinian state. Such a recognition, following the massacre of October 7, will give terrorism a huge reward, a reward like no other, and will prevent any future peace agreement," the Israeli prime minister said. The ongoing war in the Gaza Strip, which raged after Hamas launched unprecedented attacks against Israel on Oct 7, is the latest in the conflicts between Israelis and Palestinians that have reverberated for over seven decades and destabilised the Middle East. Since 2014, attempts to establish a Palestinian state alongside Israel in the West Bank and Gaza have been stalled. Also read: Prospects for new pause in Gaza war not promising: Qatar United States President Joe Biden has been attempting to broker a more comprehensive agreement that would see the establishment of a Palestinian state in addition to Saudi Arabia and other Arab nations restoring diplomatic relations with Israel. US threatens to veto ceasefire proposal at UNSC for third time Meanwhile, the US has signalled it would veto an Algerian push at the UN Security Council (UNSC) to demand an urgent ceasefire in the ongoing Israel-Hamas war. The vote at the 15-member body is scheduled to take place on Tuesday (Feb 20) and the draft of the proposal was put forward two weeks ago. US Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield said the text could sabotage ongoing “sensitive negotiations” aimed at hammering out a peace deal. For Algeria’s proposal to get adopted, at least nine members need to vote in favour, in addition to no vetoes by the permanent members—the US, UK, China, Russia and France. “The United States does not support action on this draft resolution. Should it come up for a vote as drafted, it will not be adopted,” Thomas-Greenfield says in a statement Saturday. (With inputs from agencies)

Israeli cabinet rejects ‘unilateral’ recognition of Palestinian state, terms offer a ‘prize for terror’

Israel's new government approved on Sunday an official inquiry into a stampede in April in which killed 45 people at a Jewish pilgrimage site long deemed dangerously crowded by authorities.

Though it was the country's worst civilian disaster, a full-scale investigation into the Mount Meron deaths and dozens of injuries had lagged under the previous government amid feuding between its ultra-Orthodox Jewish and opposition politicians.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/israeli-state-watchdog-to-investigate-religious-festival-stampede-382570">Israeli state watchdog to investigate religious festival stampede</a>

Establishing the state commission of inquiry a week after he was sworn in, Prime Minister Naftali Bennett said in televised remarks that while it "cannot bring back those who are gone, the government can do everything to prevent future needless loss".

A cabinet statement said the inquiry's findings would help safeguard other mass-attendance events in&nbsp;Israel, which has sites sacred to Islam and Christianity as well as to Judaism.

Tens of thousands of ultra-Orthodox Jews thronged to the Galilee hillside tomb of 2nd-century sage Rabbi Shim Bar Yochai on April 30 for the annual Lag B'Omer festival that includes all-night prayer, mystical songs and dance.

The numbers were lower than in previous years but still beyond those permitted by COVID-19 curbs. Some&nbsp;Israelis questioned if the former government under Benjamin Netanyahu and police were reluctant to further limit the crowd size because of pressure from influential ultra-Orthodox leaders.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/dozens-killed-in-stampede-at-israeli-religious-bonfire-festival-381531">Israel pilgrimage stampede: At least 44 killed in biggest Covid-era gathering</a>

During the ceremony, part of the crowd surged into a narrow tunnel and the 45 men and boys were asphyxiated or trampled.

Police are already carrying out a probe and&nbsp;Israel's government watchdog, which years ago deemed the Mount Meron site hazardous, has announced its own investigation, though it cannot bring criminal charges.

Netanyahu had promised a thorough investigation, but his cabinet, which included ultra-Orthodox Jewish ministers, never took formal action and major hostilities between&nbsp;Israel&nbsp;and the Palestinian militant group Hamas broke out less than two weeks later.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-elects-new-president-mixed-reactions-across-world-392652">Iran elects new president, mixed reactions across world</a>

Bennett is himself religiously observant but his broad coalition does not include any ultra-Orthodox parties. In his cabinet remarks, he said Meron draws Jews "from all sectors", an allusion to denominations other than the ultra-Orthodox.

Defence Minister Benny Gantz, who pushed for the inquiry, said its findings would carry "heavy weight" and could not be ignored.

Israel's new government approved on Sunday an official inquiry into a stampede in April in which killed 45 people at a Jewish pilgrimage site long deemed dangerously crowded by authorities.

Israel's new government approved on Sunday an official inquiry into a stampede in April in which killed 45 people at a Jewish pilgrimage site long deemed dangerously crowded by authorities. Though it was the country's worst civilian disaster, a full-scale investigation into the Mount Meron deaths and dozens of injuries had lagged under the previous government amid feuding between its ultra-Orthodox Jewish and opposition politicians. Also read | Israeli state watchdog to investigate religious festival stampede Establishing the state commission of inquiry a week after he was sworn in, Prime Minister Naftali Bennett said in televised remarks that while it "cannot bring back those who are gone, the government can do everything to prevent future needless loss". A cabinet statement said the inquiry's findings would help safeguard other mass-attendance events in Israel, which has sites sacred to Islam and Christianity as well as to Judaism. Tens of thousands of ultra-Orthodox Jews thronged to the Galilee hillside tomb of 2nd-century sage Rabbi Shim Bar Yochai on April 30 for the annual Lag B'Omer festival that includes all-night prayer, mystical songs and dance. The numbers were lower than in previous years but still beyond those permitted by COVID-19 curbs. Some Israelis questioned if the former government under Benjamin Netanyahu and police were reluctant to further limit the crowd size because of pressure from influential ultra-Orthodox leaders. Also read | Israel pilgrimage stampede: At least 44 killed in biggest Covid-era gathering During the ceremony, part of the crowd surged into a narrow tunnel and the 45 men and boys were asphyxiated or trampled. Police are already carrying out a probe and Israel's government watchdog, which years ago deemed the Mount Meron site hazardous, has announced its own investigation, though it cannot bring criminal charges. Netanyahu had promised a thorough investigation, but his cabinet, which included ultra-Orthodox Jewish ministers, never took formal action and major hostilities between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas broke out less than two weeks later. Also read | Iran elects new president, mixed reactions across world Bennett is himself religiously observant but his broad coalition does not include any ultra-Orthodox parties. In his cabinet remarks, he said Meron draws Jews "from all sectors", an allusion to denominations other than the ultra-Orthodox. Defence Minister Benny Gantz, who pushed for the inquiry, said its findings would carry "heavy weight" and could not be ignored.

Israeli cabinet orders inquiry on deadly festival stampede

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Israeli cabinet rejects ‘unilateral’ recognition of Palestinian state, terms offer a ‘prize for terror’

Israeli cabinet orders inquiry on deadly festival stampede