UK, Canada, Australia recognise Palestinian state; Israel calls decision “huge reward to terror”
(source : ANI) ( Photo Credit : ani)
Canada, the United Kingdom, and Australia have stepped up to formally recognize the State of Palestine, just days after the United Nations General Assembly threw its weight behind a two-state solution for the Israel-Palestine conflict. The announcements hit on Sunday, with Canada leading the way, followed quickly by Australia and the UK.
This decision builds on earlier promises from these countries. They had pledged to recognize Palestine if Israel didn’t agree to a ceasefire amid the ongoing tensions. Now, they’re making good on that.
France looks set to join the list soon. The country, one of the first in the West to hint at this step, plans to announce its recognition at a major conference on the two-state solution in New York on Monday. French President Emmanuel Macron will co-chair the event with Saudi Arabia and deliver the news himself.
Israel isn’t happy about any of this. Officials there slammed the moves as a win for Hamas and terrorism, especially after the October 7 attacks. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called it a “huge reward to terror” in a video statement. He made it clear: No Palestinian state west of the Jordan River under his watch. Netanyahu plans to respond fully after his U.S. trip next week. His government has even ramped up Jewish settlements in the West Bank—known as Judea and Samaria to Israelis—and his coalition pushes for annexing parts like the Jordan Valley.
The Israeli Foreign Ministry echoed that, saying the recognitions destabilize the region and reward the worst attack on Jews since the Holocaust. They argue statehood should be a final negotiation point, tied to peace efforts. Instead of gestures for votes at home, Israel urges pressure on Hamas to free hostages and disarm. Right now, 48 hostages remain in captivity, according to the Hostages and Missing Families Forum, which condemned the recognitions and demanded their release as a must before any state talk.
On the other side, the Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs cheered the news from Canada, the UK, and Australia. They see it as a safeguard for the two-state solution and a path to peace. More than 140 countries already recognize Palestine, but moves by G7 members like the UK and potentially France carry extra weight, given their spots on the UN Security Council.
The timing ties back to the UN’s big vote on September 12. The General Assembly passed a resolution endorsing the New York Declaration for a peaceful settlement and the two-state solution. It got 142 yes votes, including from India, coming less than a day after Netanyahu declared there would never be a Palestinian state.
Leaders from the recognizing countries shared their thoughts online. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s office said the move honors the Palestinian people’s long-standing dream of their own independent state. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney stressed his country’s support for a two-state solution since 1947, aiming for a secure Palestine living peacefully beside Israel. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced the recognition to spark hope for peace, making clear it’s not a prize for Hamas. His office added that it’s rooted in Palestinians’ right to self-determination, as promised in their election manifesto. Starmer pointed to Israel’s actions in Gaza, West Bank settlements, and Hamas violence as threats to the two-state dream.
These developments highlight the push-pull in the Middle East peace process, with more eyes on Monday’s conference for what France might bring to the table.
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