News
The United Kingdom and France have officially recognized Palestine as a state during the 80th UN General Assembly, marking a significant diplomatic shift. Both countries emphasized that the recognition does not negate Israel’s right to exist, but instead reinforces the long-standing international consensus on the “two-state solution.” French President Emmanuel Macron declared the recognition at the UN, while the UK government announced its decision shortly before the debate.
Source: BBC News｜UK recognises Palestine as an independent state
Source: AP News｜France’s Macron says country officially recognizes Palestinian state
Background: A Conflict Rooted in History
The Israeli-Palestinian conflict is not a modern dispute but part of a long-standing historical struggle over the land, dating back to ancient times.
- Ancient origins: Around the 10th century BCE, the Kingdom of Israel existed in this region. After the Roman Empire’s conquest in 70 CE, Jews were dispersed globally (the Diaspora), while Arabs became the majority population. Both peoples thus claim this land as their historic homeland.
- Modern revival: In the late 19th century, Jewish communities launched the Zionist movement, calling for a return to their ancestral land. After World War I, Britain governed Palestine under a League of Nations mandate, fueling tensions by promising independence to Arabs while also encouraging Jewish immigration.
- Partition and wars: In 1947, the UN proposed partitioning the land into Jewish and Arab states. Jews accepted, Arabs rejected. Following Israel’s declaration of independence in 1948, war broke out, and hundreds of thousands of Palestinians became refugees.
The US-Israel Alliance and Its Influence
Since the Cold War, Israel has been the United States’ most important ally in the Middle East, receiving extensive military and economic support. Domestic political factors, including Jewish lobbying groups and evangelical Christians, reinforce Washington’s unwavering pro-Israel stance. This is why the US continues to reject recognizing Palestine, even as European states move forward.
October 2023: A Turning Point
On October 7, 2023, Hamas, the Islamist group controlling Gaza, launched a large-scale surprise attack on southern Israel, targeting civilians and military sites. The assault, which included hostage-taking, was condemned worldwide.
Israel responded with a massive military operation in Gaza, involving airstrikes and ground incursions. While aimed at Hamas, the campaign caused devastating civilian casualties and humanitarian crises, leading to widespread international criticism of Israel’s “disproportionate response.”
Who Governs Palestine? The PLO vs. Hamas
Even if Palestine were universally recognized as a state, the issue of who would govern it remains unresolved.
- The Palestinian Authority (PLO) governs parts of the West Bank and is recognized internationally as the official representative of Palestinians.
- Hamas controls Gaza, openly committed to armed struggle against Israel, and is designated as a terrorist organization by many countries.
This internal division makes the establishment of a unified Palestinian state extremely difficult.
Overseas Reactions
I always found it odd that Britain created the outline for a two state solution, yet never recognised the other state for whatever reason.
It looks like Anglosphere is sending a message to Trump and US. Can UK Aus all have recognised Palestine.
Doesn’t matter. We all know republicans will never recognize Palestine. Israel is too deep in their pockets.
Democrats too.
Normally I’m not a “both sides are doing it” type of guy, but in this case 100%.
We all know Republicans are going broke…
Amazing how many people Israel have at least partially turned against themselves, isn’t it?
It’s incredible, just like their biggest supporters America.
If we ignore the ongoing genocide and just look at how Israel has handled itself from a PR standpoint, it needs to be studied just how much they dragged their own reputation through the mud.
There’s always people who’ve opposed what Israel is doing in Palestine, but for every one of them, there was 10 naive / oblivious / apathetic people. Most of those people now have a very very bad view of Israel, deservedly so.
there was 10 naive / oblivious / apathetic people
There still are.
52% of UK respondents answered “Neither” or “Don’t know” on a poll regarding sympathies in this conflict from June.
I suspect that a good chunk of the 48% that picked a side probably also just did out of social desirability.
Most people either don’t care or don’t want to pick a side in this conflict.
It’s undeniable though that the amount of people with negative views towards Israel has skyrocketed and among the youth the trend is ever greater, tomorrows leaders currently in their 20’s and 30’s.
Israel has lost the majority of good faith that it had among this cohort, whether they held it through apathy or through naivety.
Picking a side is exactly what you shouldn’t do though. The goal is to find a path toward peace which works for everyone. It’s pretty sure that if Hamas could win they would kill everyone. Peace is the most difficult goal.
As I said in another comment, the gesture is nice and all but unless they threaten to cut all ties especially trade ties and military ties with Israel then this is just a PR performance and doesn’t pressure Israel in anyway to stop their actions.
They already have.
The americans trying to bully countries into not doing it is going to cause the opposite effect. The fuck do they think they are to impugn on actual free countries’s sovereignty.
The UK, Canada, Australia, Portugal, Luxembourg, and France all recognized Palestine at the eve of the 80th UN regular session general debate. France and Saudi Arabia held a 1-day summit.
The initiative was started by Macron and Saudi Arabia in coordination with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.
…
The UK did it a day earlier, but it is France and Saudi Arabia who should be credited with this diplomatic initiative.
Recognition doesn’t matter when a palastinian state doesn’t have a government, ability to control the land, or declared borders.
The plo can’t rule without Israeli support and cant even collect taxes or govern without idf help, and hamas well is hamas.
Yea it’s like the inverse of Taiwan, which is recognized by maybe a dozen tiny countries, but where the lack of recognition doesn’t matter since they have a functional government, borders, economy, etc.
This declaration does absolutely nothing but allow countries like France to pat themselves on the back while literally nothing changes for anyone in Palestine. It’s as useful as recognizing the state of Tibet.
This declaration does absolutely nothing.
I believe it conveys certain protections under international. Protections that may be worthless now, but they weren’t available to Palestine before.
More than 3/4 of all UN nations already recognize Palestine. Tell me what France’s recognition would do that the recognition of 150+ other nations couldn’t?
France is one of 5 permanent members of the UN security council. and one of 2 NATO members with their own nuclear weapons program. The other NATO member with it’s own nuclear program is the UK, which is also one of the big 5 in the UN.
So yeah, France means more than almost any other country in terms of actual power to do something about it.
How are nukes even a variable in this situation? Do you think France will threaten to fire a nuke on Israel?
This recognition of Palestine is nothing but performative action to please voters and has zero impact on the future of Palestine.
None of this matters. If France wanted to make a difference they would boycott divest and sanction Israel. All this does is piss off the Israeli delegates. It ultimately changes nothing for the material conditions of Israel or Palestine.
Exactly. It’s just performative nonsense designed to make people feel better about not actually doing anything meaningful.
Analysis｜What the Recognition by the UK and France Means
Europe’s Diplomatic Shift
Recognition by the UK and France, both major Western powers and permanent UN Security Council members, carries weight far beyond that of smaller states. It signals that Europe is increasingly willing to diverge from the US on Middle East policy.
Potential Isolation of the US and Israel
As more European countries move toward recognition, the US and Israel risk diplomatic isolation. The October 2023 events, where Hamas attacked Israel and Israel’s military response drew sharp criticism, have amplified these rifts.
Symbolism vs. Practical Impact
Skepticism remains about the actual impact of recognition. Critics argue that unless accompanied by sanctions or economic pressure, it is little more than symbolic. Still, symbols matter: recognition by powerful states strengthens Palestine’s standing in international forums.
The Limits of Israel’s Goal
Israel seeks to “eliminate Hamas,” but this is largely unrealistic. Hamas is not only a military group but also a political and ideological movement with deep roots. Military campaigns may weaken its capabilities, but the underlying ideology is far harder to eradicate.
Japan’s Position: A Balancing Act
Japan has traditionally pursued a balanced approach:
- Maintaining economic and technological ties with Israel, in line with its US alliance.
- Supporting Palestinians through humanitarian aid, infrastructure projects, and backing the two-state solution.
- While Japan has not formally recognized Palestine as a state, it treats the Palestinian Authority as a legitimate partner and plays the role of a “neutral mediator.”
Conclusion｜A Symbolic Turning Point, but Challenges Remain
The UK and France’s recognition of Palestine marks a symbolic turning point, highlighting Europe’s growing independence from Washington’s line. Yet it does not immediately change realities on the ground. Questions of governance, the deep divisions between the PLO and Hamas, and Israel’s continued military operations remain obstacles.
For Japan and other states striving for neutrality, the challenge is how to translate symbolic gestures into effective steps toward peace. Ultimately, the recognition forces the world to reexamine the viability of the two-state solution, but the path to actual peace remains long and uncertain.
