UK, Australia and Canada Recognise Palestinian State in Historic Shift

A turning point in Western diplomacy sparks hope and fury

For decades, Western powers resisted the idea of recognising a Palestinian state, insisting it should only emerge from negotiations with Israel. On Sunday, that position cracked. In a coordinated move, Britain, Australia and Canada announced they now officially recognise Palestine, a step Palestinian leaders hailed as historic and Israel swiftly denounced as dangerous.

Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas called the decision “an important and necessary step toward achieving a just and lasting peace.” But Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu dismissed it as “absurd,” vowing that “no Palestinian state will be established west of the Jordan River” and pledging to expand Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank.

Global momentum builds

The recognition by three of Israel’s closest allies is more than symbolic. Britain and Canada are the first G7 nations to endorse Palestinian statehood, with Australia quickly joining them. Portugal announced plans to follow the same day, while France signaled it would make its decision during the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

At least 144 of the UN’s 193 member states already recognise Palestine, reflecting a growing international impatience with Israel’s two-year offensive in Gaza. The war was triggered by the Hamas attack on 7 October 2023, which killed 1,219 people in Israel, most of them civilians. Israel’s response has been devastating: more than 65,000 Palestinians, also largely civilians, have been killed, according to Gaza health officials. The UN has described the territory as being on the brink of famine.

Shifting political tides in London, Ottawa and Canberra

In London, Prime Minister Keir Starmer framed the move as an attempt to “revive the hope of peace” and reaffirm Britain’s commitment to a two-state solution. He was candid about the weight of history, noting the UK’s “special burden” dating back to the 1917 Balfour Declaration, which paved the way for the creation of Israel.

Public opinion has been another driver. Massive pro-Palestinian marches have filled British streets for months, and a recent YouGov poll found that two-thirds of Britons aged 18–25 support Palestinian statehood. Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy underscored this sentiment earlier this year, telling the UN that Britain had a responsibility to act.

In Canada, Prime Minister Mark Carney offered “partnership in building the promise of a peaceful future,” while Australia’s Anthony Albanese said the decision recognised “the legitimate and long-held aspirations of the people of Palestine.”

Backlash and divisions

Israel’s anger was immediate. Netanyahu warned that recognition would only “endanger” Israel’s security, while his government vowed to accelerate settlement building in the West Bank. U.S. President Donald Trump also distanced himself, telling reporters last week that Palestinian statehood was “one of our few disagreements” with the UK.

French President Emmanuel Macron struck a cautious tone, saying that recognition could only move forward once Hamas released the hostages it has held since 2023.

Meanwhile, supporters of Trump’s “Make America Great Again” movement in the U.S. have echoed Israel’s view, framing recognition as rewarding Hamas. Starmer, however, was careful to counter that narrative, branding Hamas a “brutal terror organisation” and announcing tighter sanctions against it.

A fragile road ahead

While recognition is a watershed moment, it does not resolve the hardest questions: Who would govern a Palestinian state? How would borders and security be managed? And can international guarantees stop another cycle of violence?

Britain’s Foreign Ministry said work is underway to design a peace framework addressing governance, security, humanitarian access, and reconstruction. For many Palestinians, however, the recognitions themselves mark progress after decades of stalled diplomacy.

As one London-based activist posted on X, “For the first time in years, it feels like the world is listening.”

{Source: The Citizen}

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