Several more countries have formally recognized Palestinian state at a World Meeting of France and Saudi Arabia, a day after Australia, Britain, Canada and Portugal took steps and angry Israel.
The status of Palestinian state
The Palestinian Liberation Organization declared an independent Palestinian state in 1988, and most of the global south recognized it rapidly. Today, about 150 of the 193 UN Member States have done so.
Israeli’s most important allies, the United States, have long said that it supports the target of a Palestinian state, but only after the Palestinians and Israel agree on the conditions for a two-state solution at the negotiations. Until recent weeks, the largest European powers shared this attitude.
However, no such Israeli-Palestinian negotiations have been held since 2014, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has now said there will never be a Palestinian state.
A delegation representing the state of Palestine has observer status at the UN – but no voting rights. No matter how many countries recognize Palestinian independence, full UN membership would require the approval of the Security Council, where Washington has a veto.
Palestinian diplomatic missions around the world are controlled by the Palestinian authority recognized internationally as representing the Palestinian people.
Pa, led by President Mahmoud Abbas, exerts limited self -government in parts of the Israeli occupied West Bank under agreements with Israel. It issues Palestinian passports and runs the Palestinian health and education systems.
The Gaza Strip has been administered by Hamas since 2007 as it drove out of Abbas’ Fatah movement after a short civil war.
Embassy?
Palestinian diplomatic missions in countries recognizing a Palestinian state are expected to be upgraded to the full status of the embassies. But countries are not expected to be able to open new, fully expanded embassies in the Palestinian territories where Israel controls access.
About 40 countries have consulates or representative offices either in PA’s West Bank Base Ramallah or in parts of Jerusalem caught by Israel in 1967, when the Palestinians hope to have their capital.
Israel considers the whole of Jerusalem his own undivided capital. Fully expanded embassies in Israel are mostly located in Tel Aviv, although the United States moved its embassy to Jerusalem under President Donald Trump’s first period.
Goals of recognition
Countries moving to recognizing a Palestinian state say the move is intended to put pressure on Israel to end its devastating assault on Gaza, limit the construction of new Jewish settlements on the occupied West Bank and resume a peace process with the Palestinians.
French President Emmanuel Macron, the first leader of a greater Western power to approve recognition, said the move would be accompanied by an obligation from PA to adopt reforms, which would improve the Palestinian governance and make it a more credible partner for the post -war administration in Gaza.
What does recognition mean in practice?
Those who see recognition as a pure gesture point to the limited influence in the conflict between countries such as China, India, Russia and many Arab states that recognized Palestinian independence decades ago.
Without a full seat at the UN or control of its own boundaries, PA has only limited ability to carry out bilateral connections.
Israel limits access to goods, investments and education or cultural exchanges. There are no Palestinian airports. The locked West Bank can only be reached through Israel or through the Israeli-controlled border with Jordan, and Israel now controls all access to the Gaza Strip since he captures Gaza’s border with Egypt during the ongoing war.
Still, countries that plan recognition and PA themselves say it would be more than an empty gesture.
Husam Zomlot, head of the Palestinian mission to Britain, said it could lead to partnerships between units on an equal footing.
It can also force countries to review aspects of their relationship with Israel, said Vincent Fean, a former British diplomat in Jerusalem.
In Britain’s case, this could result in prohibitions of products coming from Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories, he said, although the practical influence on the Israeli economy would be minimal.
USA, Israel’s reaction
Israel, who is facing a global scream over his behavior in the Gaza war, says recognition rewards Hamas for the attacks on Israel, which precipitated the war in October 2023.
“A Palestinian state will not be established west of the Jordan River,” said Prime Minister Netanyahu.
The United States is against recognition movements from its European allies. It has imposed sanctions against Palestinian officials, including blocking ABBAs and other PA numbers from attending the UN General Assembly by refusing and revoking Visa.
