International
The Israeli Parliament votes “as a principle” of a Palestinian state
The Knesset (Israeli Parliament) voted this morning “as a principle” against the establishment of a Palestinian State, in the midst of a growing debate about it in the international community for the war in the Gaza Strip.
The resolution that denies the possibility of a Palestinian State, co-sponsored by parties of the right-wing coalition of Benjamin Netanyahu and other parties of the same tendency as the opposition, passed with 68 votes in favor and 9 against.
The center-right National Unity party, of former war cabinet minister Benny Gantz – now in the opposition -, also voted in favor of the resolution, which rejects a Palestinian state even as part of a negotiation with Israel.
“National Unity is committed, in whatever future political scenario that arises, to preserve the Jewish and democratic identity of the State of Israel, and insist on its historical rights and security interests,” said a statement from the formation.
The legislators of the centrist “Hay Futuro”, the head of the opposition and former prime minister, Yair Lapid, left in the middle of the Knesset before the vote to avoid supporting the measure, despite the fact that he has spoken out in favor of the solution of the two States.
The only formations that were in favor of a Palestinian state were the Labour party and the Arab formations Raam and Hadash-Taal.
The initiative went ahead a few days before Netanyahu’s planned visit to the United States to address a joint session in Congress, on July 22, and also meet with President Joe Biden, a meeting that could be affected after the US ruler tested positive for COVID-19.
Already in February, the Knesset approved a resolution, proposed by Netanyahu himself, rejecting the establishment of a Palestinian state, but that motion specifically addressed the unilateral establishment of that state in the face of statements by several countries that were considering recognizing a Palestinian state in the absence of a peace agreement with Israel.
Eight countries have unilaterally recognized the Palestinian State in 2024, driven by the lack of diplomatic exit to the war in Gaza: Barbados, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, the Bahamas, Spain, Ireland, Norway, Slovenia and Armenia.
The joint recognition of the three EU countries – Spain, Ireland and Norway – caused great anger in Israel, which called for consultations with its ambassadors and summoned the three European representatives for a reprimand.
A total of 145 countries of the 193 that are part of the United Nations have recognized the Palestinian State, a dozen of them belong to the European Union (EU).
“Israel’s Knesset is firmly opposed to the establishment of a Palestinian state in the west of Jordan. The establishment of a Palestinian State in the heart of the Land of Israel will pose an existential danger to the State of Israel and its citizens, perpetuate the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and destabilize the region,” says the resolution adopted on Thursday.
“It will only be a matter of a short time before Hamas takes over the Palestinian State and turns it into a radical Islamic terrorist base, in coordination with the axis led by Iran to eliminate the State of Israel,” he adds.
The resolution considers that promoting the idea of a Palestinian State at this time is “a reward for terrorism and will only encourage Hamas and its supporters to see this as a victory thanks to the massacre of October 7, 2023, and a prelude to the seizure of power by jihadist Islam in the Middle East.”
Although he achieved the co-sponsorship of several right-wing parties, the resolution was initially proposed by the right-wing New Hope party – a split of Netanyahu’s Likud – whose leader, Guideon Saar, stated that its purpose is to “express general opposition among the Israeli people to a Palestinian state, which would endanger the security and future of Israel.”
“It is a message to the international community that the pressure to impose a Palestinian state on Israel is useless,” he said.
International
U.S. and Mexico Reach Deal to Address Water Deficit Under 1944 Treaty
The United States and Mexico have reached an agreement to comply with current water obligations affecting U.S. farmers and ranchers and for Mexico to cover its water deficit to Texas under the 1944 Water Treaty, the U.S. Department of Agriculture said in a statement.
The department уточified that the agreement applies to both the current cycle and the water deficit from the previous cycle.
On Monday, U.S. President Donald Trump accused Mexico of failing to comply with the water-sharing treaty between the two countries, which requires the United States to deliver 1.85 billion cubic meters of water from the Colorado River, while Mexico must supply 432 million cubic meters from the Rio Grande.
Mexico is behind on its commitments. According to Washington, the country has accumulated a deficit of more than one billion cubic meters of water over the past five years.
“This violation is severely harming our beautiful crops and our livestock in Texas,” Trump wrote on Monday.
The Department of Agriculture said on Friday that Mexico had agreed to supply 250 million cubic meters of water starting next week and to work toward closing the shortfall.
Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, quoted in the statement, said Mexico delivered more water in a single year than it had over the previous four years combined.
Trump has said that if Mexico continues to fall short of its obligations, the United States reserves the right to impose 5% tariffs on imported Mexican products.
Mexico’s Deputy Foreign Minister for North America, Roberto Velasco, said that a severe drought in 2022 and 2023prevented the country from meeting its commitments.
International
Several people shot in attack on Brown University campus
Several people were shot on Saturday in an attack on the campus of Brown University, in the northeastern United States, local police reported.
“Shelter in place and avoid the area until further notice,” the Providence Police Department urged in a post on X. Brown University is located in Providence, the capital of the state of Rhode Island.
U.S. President Donald Trump said on his social media platform Truth Social that he had been briefed on the situation and that the FBI was on the scene.
At 5:52 p.m. local time (11:52 p.m. GMT), Brown University said the situation was still “ongoing” and instructed students to remain sheltered until further notice.
After initially stating that the suspect had been taken into custody, Trump later posted a second message clarifying that local police had walked back that information. “The suspect has NOT been apprehended,” the U.S. president said.
International
Colombia says it would not reject Maduro asylum request as regional tensions escalate
The Colombian government stated on Thursday that it would have no reason to reject a potential asylum request from Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro should he leave office, as regional tensions persist over the deployment of U.S. military forces in the Caribbean since August.
“In the current climate of tension, negotiations are necessary, and if the United States demands a transition or political change, that is something to be assessed. If such a transition results in him (Maduro) needing to live elsewhere or seek protection, Colombia would have no reason to deny it,” said Colombian Foreign Minister Rosa Villavicencio in an interview with Caracol Radio.
However, Villavicencio noted that it is unlikely Maduro would choose Colombia as a refuge. “I believe he would opt for someplace more distant and calmer,” she added.
Colombian President Gustavo Petro also commented on Venezuela’s situation on Wednesday, arguing that the country needs a “democratic revolution” rather than “inefficient repression.” His remarks followed the recent detention and passport cancellation of Cardinal Baltazar Porras at the Caracas airport.
“The Maduro government must understand that responding to external aggression requires more than military preparations; it requires a democratic revolution. A country is defended with more democracy, not more inefficient repression,” Petro wrote on X (formerly Twitter), in a rare public criticism of the Venezuelan leader.
Petro also called for a general amnesty for political opponents and reiterated his call for forming a broad transitional government to address Venezuela’s prolonged crisis.
Since September, U.S. military forces have destroyed more than 20 vessels allegedly carrying drugs in Caribbean and Pacific waters near Venezuela and Colombia, resulting in over 80 deaths.
U.S. President Donald Trump has repeatedly warned that attacks “inside Venezuela” will begin “soon,” while Maduro has urged Venezuelans to prepare for what he describes as an impending external aggression.
Panama seizes over three tons of drugs hidden in Caribbean port container
U.S. and Mexico Reach Deal to Address Water Deficit Under 1944 Treaty
Several people shot in attack on Brown University campus
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