Countries should act unilaterally in recognizing Palestine
In the tangled web of geopolitics and moral responsibility, recognition of Palestine stands today not merely as a diplomatic choice, but as a litmus test of integrity, courage, and commitment to global justice. As the world watches yet another cycle of suffering unfold, it is time to call out the procrastinators, praise the bold, and demand that the international community act unilaterally in embracing the two-state solution — starting with the immediate recognition of Palestine.
The UK's recent stance — threatening to recognize Palestine if Israel fails to meet certain conditions — encapsulates the paradox of delayed justice. 'Too little, too late' is apt for a nation that played a pivotal role in creating the current geopolitical landscape. Yet, 'better late than never' is equally valid if London finally chooses to right historical wrongs. Former colonial powers such as Britain and France share a legacy of deep entanglement in the Middle East, and the latter's courageous move to recognize Palestine deserves both praise and emulation.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warns that recognition of Palestine equates to rewarding Hamas — a curious argument, given that his government's long-term policies over more than 16 years have emboldened the very group he now seeks to vilify. Netanyahu's devious support for Hamas is well-documented. 'For years, Netanyahu propped up Hamas. Now it's blown up in our faces,' read a headline in The Times of Israel in the immediate aftermath of the horrible Oct. 7 attacks. In 2019, the Israeli leader reportedly said: 'Those who want to thwart the establishment of a Palestinian state should support the strengthening of Hamas.'
Peace, prosperity, and progress are within reach.
Faisal J. Abbas | Editor-in-Chief
Recognition is not about legitimizing terrorism. It is about affirming the rights of millions of Palestinians who have nothing to do with Hamas, and have endured statelessness, displacement, and daily suffering. It is about offering a framework for peace that includes Israelis, who also deserve security and stability. Not to mention ending the illegal occupation of Palestinian lands, as stipulated by the UN — an organization Israel is a member of but does not seem to respect.
Whether Netanyahu and his coalition of far-right nationalists accept it or not, the two-state solution remains Israel's safest path forward — both in terms of regional normalization and long-term peace. Saudi Arabia has repeatedly signaled that full normalization is contingent upon the creation of a Palestinian state. The Arab and Muslim worlds are prepared to integrate Israel into a region brimming with economic potential and strategic value. Peace, prosperity, and progress are within reach — if only the leadership dares grasp it.
Sadly, many in Israel's current ruling elite remain ideologically opposed to any peaceful settlement. These are individuals who have overseen West Bank annexations, weaponized hunger, and now face accusations of war crimes and crimes against humanity. Their worldview is not anchored in coexistence; it thrives on perpetual conflict and expansionism. For them, any compromise — even one that could save lives — is tantamount to betrayal.
Let us not forget that these are elected officials who have, without remorse, described the people of Gaza as 'human animals,' called for nuclear strikes, and openly encouraged mass displacement. When such rhetoric becomes policy, and cruelty is cloaked in nationalism, the moral compass of governance is not just broken — it is weaponized.
This is no longer about diplomacy — it is about justice.
Faisal J. Abbas | Editor-in-Chief
That is why the global community, especially nations untainted by historical baggage, must act. A coalition spearheaded by Saudi Arabia and France, embracing the two-state solution through unilateral recognition of Palestine, is the only viable path forward. Waiting for consensus or negotiating around extremists only prolongs the suffering. This is no longer about diplomacy — it is about justice.
Now, more than ever, the stars seem aligned. Hamas and Hezbollah are weakened. Iran is notably quiet. We have a US president who is focused on negotiating peace deals between Ukraine and Russia, India and Pakistan, and Thailand and Cambodia. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman happens to be leading Saudi Arabia and has emerged as a pragmatic regional leader with transformative ambitions. This is a historic window to reimagine the Middle East not as a perennial battleground, but as the next Europe — a region of stability, trade, cooperation, and cultural exchange.
In the end, recognition of Palestine is not an act of defiance; it is a pledge to uphold human dignity. It is a call to end decades of suffering, and a step toward a future where Israelis and Palestinians can live not just side by side, but as equal partners in peace.
History won't wait. Neither should we.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Arab News
an hour ago
- Arab News
More clashes and arrests at UK immigration protests
Demonstrators calling for mass 'remigration' gathered in central ManchesterIn central London, rival demonstrators converged outside a hotel housing asylum seekersMANCHESTER: Further scuffles broke out at anti-immigration protests in the UK on Saturday, with police making several calling for mass 'remigration' gathered in central Manchester, northwest England, for a march organized by the far-right 'Britain First' group, which was confronted by anti-racism in central London, rival demonstrators converged outside a hotel housing asylum seekers, following similar recent events that have occasionally turned Manchester, the two groups clashed briefly at the start of the protest before police split them up, according to an AFP journalist at the scene.'Send them back, don't let them in — just stop them coming in, we've got hotels full of immigrants and we've got our own homeless people in the streets begging for food but nowhere to live,' said protester Brendan O'Reilly, Judy, a 60-year-old retired nurse, told AFP she was there 'because I don't want to see people full of hate on the streets of Manchester.''Do they want them all to go back or is it just people with brown skin? I suspect it's just people with brown skin that they want to re-migrate,' she London, similar clashes erupted outside a hotel in the Barbican neighborhood before police Police wrote on X that officers had cleared a junction where counter-protesters had assembled in breach of the conditions in place.'There have been nine arrests so far, with seven for breaching Public Order Act conditions,' added the have been several flashpoints around the UK in recent weeks, most notably in the north-east London neighborhood of Epping.
Arab News
an hour ago
- Arab News
Pro-Palestine online content in UK risks censorship, rights groups warn
LONDON: Pro-Palestine online content in the UK could be censored through the twin threat of the Online Safety Act and banning of Palestine Action, human rights groups have warned. Content in support of Palestinians published online could be misconstrued as supporting Palestine Action, a protest group that was proscribed under anti-terrorism laws on July 5, The Guardian reported on Saturday. Index on Censorship, Open Rights Group and other organizations have written to Ofcom, the UK's independent communications regulator, to request clarification on the matter. Signatories to the letter also warned that online content objecting to Palestine Action's banning could be misidentified as unlawful support for the group. Open Rights Group's Sara Chitseko, a pre-crime program manager, told The Guardian: 'Crucial public debate about Gaza is being threatened by vague, overly broad laws that could lead to content about Palestine being removed or hidden online. 'There's also a real danger that people will start self-censoring, worried they might be breaking the law just by sharing or liking posts related to Palestine and nonviolent direct action. 'This is a serious attack on freedom of expression and the right to protest in the UK. We need to ensure that people can share content about Palestine online without being afraid that they will be characterised as supportive of terrorism.' Major online social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram and TikTok have been advised by Ofcom that they can avoid concerns about meeting the requirements of the Online Safety Act if they are more stringent with censoring content than is mandated by the act. The letter sent to Ofcom by the rights groups warned: 'This approach risks encouraging automated moderation that disproportionately affects political speech, particularly from marginalised communities, including Palestinian voices.' The UK, unlike the EU, lacks a mechanism through which users can appeal the censoring of their online content. Signatories to the letter — which was also sent to Meta, Alphabet, X and ByteDance, owners of the world's top social media platforms — called for the creation of a British dispute mechanism to discourage the censoring of lawful content. The letter added: 'We are concerned that the proscription of Palestine Action may result in an escalation of platforms removing content, using algorithms to hide Palestine solidarity posts and leave individuals and those reporting on events vulnerable to surveillance or even criminalisation for simply sharing or liking content that references nonviolent direct action. 'We are also concerned about what platforms understand by their legal duties regarding expressions of 'support' for Palestine Action.' An Ofcom spokesperson said: 'We have provided detailed guidance to platforms about how to identify the particular types of illegal and harmful material prohibited or restricted by the act, including how to determine whether content may have been posted by a proscribed organisation. 'There is no requirement on companies to restrict legal content for adult users. In fact, they must carefully consider how they protect users' rights to freedom of expression while keeping people safe.'
Arab News
an hour ago
- Arab News
Amount of aid entering Gaza remains ‘very insufficient'
BERLIN: The amount of aid entering Gaza remains 'very insufficient' despite a limited improvement, the German government said on Saturday after ministers discussed ways to heighten pressure on Israel. The criticism came after Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul visited the region on Thursday and Friday, and the German military staged its first food airdrops into Gaza, where aid agencies say that more than 2 million Palestinians are facing starvation. Germany 'notes limited initial progress in the delivery of humanitarian aid to the population of the Gaza Strip, which, however, remains very insufficient to alleviate the emergency situation,' government spokesman Stefan Kornelius said in a statement. The Israeli army is accused of having equipped Palestinian criminal networks in its fight against Hamas and of allowing them to plunder aid deliveries. 'Israel remains obligated to ensure the full delivery of aid,' Kornelius added. Facing mounting international criticism over its military operations in Gaza, Israel has allowed more trucks to cross the border and some foreign nations to carry out airdrops of food and medicines. International agencies say the amount of aid entering Gaza is still dangerously low, however. The UN has said that 6,000 trucks are awaiting permission from Israel to enter the occupied Palestinian territory. The German government, traditionally a strong supporter of Israel, also expressed 'concern regarding reports that Hamas and criminal organizations are withholding large quantities of humanitarian aid.' Israel has alleged that much of the aid arriving in the territory is being siphoned off by Hamas, which runs Gaza. The Israeli army is accused of having equipped Palestinian criminal networks in its fight against Hamas and of allowing them to plunder aid deliveries. 'The real theft of aid since the beginning of the war has been carried out by criminal gangs, under the watch of Israeli forces,' Jonathan Whittall of OCHA, the UN agency for coordinating humanitarian affairs, told reporters in May. A German government source said it had noted that Israel has 'considerably' increased the number of aid trucks allowed into Gaza to about 220 a day. Berlin has taken a tougher line against Israel's actions in Gaza and the occupied West Bank in recent weeks. The source stated that a German security Cabinet meeting on Saturday discussed 'the different options' for exerting pressure on Israel, but no decision was made. A partial suspension of arms deliveries to Israel is one option that has been raised. Militants launched an attack in Israel on Oct. 7, 2023. Israel's military offensive on Gaza since then has killed at least 60,249 Palestinians, according to Gaza's Health Ministry. The UN considers the ministry's figures reliable. Indirect negotiations between Hamas and Israel aimed at securing a 60-day ceasefire in the war and deal for the release of hostages ended last week in deadlock. Hamas said on Saturday that it would not lay down arms unless an independent Palestinian state is established. In a statement, the Palestinian group said its 'armed resistance ... cannot be relinquished except through the full restoration of our national rights, foremost among them the establishment of an independent, fully sovereign Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital.'
