From the Liveblog of
Wednesday, October 16, 2024
Motion demanding Israel withdraw from Gaza, Lebanon defeated at Inter-Parliamentary Union
Sam Sokol is the Times of Israel's political correspondent. He was previously a reporter for the Jerusalem Post, Jewish Telegraphic Agency and Haaretz. He is the author of "Putin’s Hybrid War and the Jews"
The Inter-Parliamentary Union defeated a motion calling on Israel to withdraw its forces from Gaza and Lebanon, as well as the West Bank and East Jerusalem, during a meeting of representatives of 195 parliaments in Geneva yesterday.
The Palestinian resolution demanded the Knesset “submit a monthly report on the extent of its compliance with UN General Assembly resolution ES-10/24,” which called on Israel to vacate the West Bank within a year. Failure to do so would result in sanctions.
The resolution failed to obtain the necessary two-thirds majority, eliciting cheering and clapping from the members of the Israeli delegation, led by MKs Dan Illouz (Likud), MK Tzega Melaku (Likud) and MK Elazar Stern (Yesh Atid).
When Illouz spoke out against the resolution, parliamentarians from Iran and a number of Arab countries walked out of the hall in protest, with lawmakers from multiple countries chanting “free, free Palestine” and yelling “murderers” at the Israeli delegation.
Parliamentarians protest Israeli officials during 149th General Assembly of Inter-Parliamentary Union in Geneva, banging on tables and leaving the hall pic.twitter.com/P1Eu7AyMLt
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“How dare the Palestinian Authority lecture us on international law violations,” Illouz countered. “This is the same authority that pays terrorists to murder innocent Jews and brainwashes schoolchildren to hate and kill.”
“The clause submitted by the Palestinians is full of lies. Israel, unlike its neighbors, respects international law. We are the only democracy in the region, committed to the rule of law,” he declared.
