Adding meaning to the recognition of Palestine

Finally, the United Kingdom, Canada and Australia have given formal recognition to the state of Palestine on Sunday, September 21. The three staunch supporters of Israel-they still are-have decided to accept the Palestinian people's right to statehood. So, what prompted the British Prime Minister Kier Starmer to make a break with his government's past stance? 

The apparent reason, as the British PM argued, is Israel's failure to agree to a ceasefire in the Gaza war and its (Israel's) not meeting conditions including committing to a long-term sustainable peace process that delivers a two-state solution and allows more aid into the (Gaza) enclave. However, the main reason for Starmer's shift in stance is the growing public opinion against Israel's acts of mindless brutality in Gaza. In Britain, in particular, Starmer's labour government is facing intense public criticism for his stubborn and continued support for Israel so far. So, it is clearly a move on his part to placate public resentment. And, of course, Starmer's decision to recognise Palestinian state goes against the position of his strongest ally, President Donald Trump of America who is dead against any move in this direction. In any case, Mr Starmer has definitely taken a certain amount of political risk by making Trump unhappy. 

When Israel is carrying out a genocide where the victims are mostly children and women amidst an artificially created famine, what is actually required of the UK's premier is a strong condemnation of what Israel is doing in Gaza and at the same time issuing of sanction against Israel so none of these three countries including the UK can send any military aid to Israel. Otherwise, any half-hearted approach to the issue of Palestinian state will only further encourage Israel to continue its occupation of the West Bank and its ongoing operation in Gaza.

So, to put a stop to all these, the three countries should stop all moral and material support for Israel.  If the UK, Canada and Australia can take such a stance, then that would definitely help restrain Israel to some extent. Even so, with US's unqualified support for Israel still in force, not much could be achieved with these countries' recognition of the state of Palestine. Now, if France also gives recognition to the state of Palestine as it has already declared, then four out of the five permanent members of the Security Council including China and the Russian Federation will be in favour of Palestine. But still America's veto can torpedo any move made on behalf of Palestine. Now when these three Western allies of Israel declared their decision to recognise a Palestinian state, Israel was carrying out its offensive towards the central Gaza forcing thousands of Gazans out of their shelters and killing and maiming scores of Palestinians.

So, one wonders what is the use of this recognition of a Palestinian state for the Gazan children whose parents and siblings have been massacred by Israeli bombs and bullets? What is the use of a formal recognition of a Palestinian state for those Palestinian people who are still on the run and have no guarantee that they will survive another day under the relentless pounding of Israeli artillery shells and aerial bombardment?  

Against this backdrop, to add any meaning to their act of recognising a Palestinian state, the British, Canadian and Australian leaders should be able to prevail upon the Israeli government to stop its extermination campaign of the Palestinians in Gaza. For, if there is nobody in Palestine to enjoy the fruit of statehood, then how can the Western leaders hope to foresee two states-Israel and Palestine-living peacefully side by side! Most importantly, if Israel continues to defy all international rules and norms, doesn't give a damn about UN resolutions, International Court of Justice (ICJ)'s orders and so on, then how is the international community going to implement its decisions about a Palestinian state?

The international community needs to take a stronger and more proactive stance to add meaning to their recognition of a Palestinian state.

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