In opposition to the once-stated position of Prime Minister Ariel Sharon - which he has made sure not to repeat - the Knesset voted last night that it does not view Judea, Samaria and Gaza as occupied territory. Sharon, who was visiting in London at the time of the vote, told the Likud Knesset faction on May 26 of this year, "Maybe you don't like the word 'conquest,' but that's what it is..."
The Knesset, however, voted 26-8 last night on a resolution stating, "The territories of Judea, Samaria and Gaza are not occupied territories - neither from a historic standpoint, nor from that of international law, and not according to the agreements signed by the State of Israel... The Knesset strengthens the hands of the residents of Yesha, and calls upon the government to continue to develop the communities." Left-wing MKs ridiculed the Knesset resolution, which in any event has only symbolic significance.
The resolution also states: "The Knesset calls upon the government to insist on the following red lines in all future negotiations: Israeli sovereignty in Jerusalem; preservation of security zones including the western security zone along the Green Line and an eastern security zone in the Jordan Valley; total rejection of the entry of Palestinian refugees to the areas of Israel; the dismantling of the terror infrastructures and the cessation of incitement as conditions for all diplomatic negotiations."
The Knesset, however, voted 26-8 last night on a resolution stating, "The territories of Judea, Samaria and Gaza are not occupied territories - neither from a historic standpoint, nor from that of international law, and not according to the agreements signed by the State of Israel... The Knesset strengthens the hands of the residents of Yesha, and calls upon the government to continue to develop the communities." Left-wing MKs ridiculed the Knesset resolution, which in any event has only symbolic significance.
The resolution also states: "The Knesset calls upon the government to insist on the following red lines in all future negotiations: Israeli sovereignty in Jerusalem; preservation of security zones including the western security zone along the Green Line and an eastern security zone in the Jordan Valley; total rejection of the entry of Palestinian refugees to the areas of Israel; the dismantling of the terror infrastructures and the cessation of incitement as conditions for all diplomatic negotiations."