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It was originally planned that at an upcoming conference in New York, heads of state from France and the UK would officially recognize a Palestinian state. But this was later deemed inappropriate, and the conference will focus instead on a series of measures and concessions contingent on gaining that recognition.
It’s clearly considered a significant step and decision that has to be made with the utmost care among powerful Western nations. Among the concessions expected to be put to the embattled victims of the crime of genocide would include the release of Israeli captives, reform of the Palestinian Authority, and an end of Hamas rule, Middle East Eye reported.
If agreed, recognition of a Palestinian state could come in tandem with Saudi Arabia recognizing Israel, which is also attending the conference.
British Foreign Secretary David Lammy has previously insisted that the UK would only recognize a Palestinian state “when we know it’s going to happen and it’s in sight”.
Former and current Israeli diplomats speaking with Middle East Eye have suggested that short of the United States recognizing a Palestinian state, there would be no event more significant in the history of Israel’s apartheid rule.
“We can pull our ambassadors from Spain, or from Oslo or from Dublin,” said Alon Liel, former director general of Israel’s foreign ministry. “But we cannot pull our ambassador from London. We cannot close our embassy in London”.
A war in words
In extreme contrast to figures like Keir Starmer, Emanual Macron, and Liel, current Israeli political leaders need not set aside any time at all for deliberations: there will be no Palestinian state, according to them.
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz recently approved plans to build a further 22 settlements in the occupied West Bank as “a strategic move that prevents the establishment of a Palestinian state”.
If carried out, it would be the largest expansion of illegal settlements on the West Bank of the Jordan River in over 30 years, according to Antiwar.
“This is a decisive response to the terrorist organizations that are trying to harm and weaken our hold on this land—and it is also a clear message to Macron and his associates: they will recognize a Palestinian state on paper—but we will build the Jewish Israeli state here on the ground,” Katz said. “The paper will be thrown into the trash bin of history, and the State of Israel will flourish and prosper”.
In response to the upcoming conference in New York and rumblings that France and the UK may recognize Palestine, the head of Israel’s Gaza negotiating team sent warnings of “unilateral action” in response to recognition, which would include, according to Haaretz, legalization of currently-illegal settlements along the West Bank, and the annexation of Area C.
In July, the Israel Knesset voted with an almost total majority to oppose the establishment of a Palestinian state, with only Palestinians, and a single left-wing Jewish member voting in opposition.
In May, fiery Religious Zionism party leader Bezalel Smotrich, who holds the position of Finance Minister in Netanyahu’s government, called for the Gazans to be “concentrated,” a rather ironic term to use.
“The Gazan citizens will be concentrated in the south. They will be totally despairing, understanding that there is no hope and nothing to look for in Gaza, and will be looking for relocation to begin a new life in other places,” Smotrich said in a speech. He shared a similar vision for the West Bank, declaring the whole territory will be annexed.
“It will happen this term. It is one of our most important challenges. We are at a historic opportunity,” he said.
US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee recently called comments made by French President Emanual Macron over a Palestinian state “incredibly inappropriate”.
“If France is really so determined to see a Palestinian state, I’ve got a suggestion for them—carve out a piece of the French Riviera and create a Palestinian state,” he told Fox News Sunday. Huckabee previously stated that there’s no such thing as the West Bank, and no such thing as a Palestinian. WaL
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PICTURED ABOVE: Keir Starmer and Emanuel Macron at a recent EU summit. PC: European Union, press pool ©
