Recognition and After

The 80th annual United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) held in the last week of September in New York City, created a lot of fireworks as more than 140 world leaders discussed the day’s biggest geopolitical flash points. The crucial issue was, however, Palestine, rather recognition of Palestine by more than 145 nations. Then Australia, Canada, Portugal and the UK were the notable backers of a Palestine state. And closely Belgium, France, Luxembourg, Malta and San Marino followed the suit. “The statehood for Palestine is a right, not a reward”. That was UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres. But this western recognition is an exercise in escapism. They are unlikely to force UN to implement their will. Then there is a little bit of hypocrisy. While recognising Palestine Britain continues to supply weapons to Israel so that destruction of Gaza goes on unabated.

Set in motion by the Balfour Declaration of 1917, the British Mandate for the establishment of a Jewish homeland in Palestine was finally approved by the Council of the League of Nations and came into force on September 29, 1923. And the bloody campaign continues with no hope of amicable solution.

The idea of two-state solution as envisaged in the Oslo Accords of 1993 is again gaining currency. France and Saudi Arabia that are now trying to seek resolution of the Palestine conflict through the framework of Oslo Accords, strongly presented their case before the UN General Assembly. In truth Paris and Riyadh gave the two-state solution a life-line in July by proposing the New York Declaration which calls for a “just, peaceful and lasting settlement of the Israeli- Palestinian conflict based on the implementation of the two-state solution”. Then the UN General Assembly adopted the New York Declaration by a wide margin on September 12.

No doubt recognising a Palestinian state, particularly by a dozen of European countries, in defiance of Israel and the United States, is likely to boost morale for those who are fighting for justice for decades, it is largely seen as a symbolic gesture that will do little to deliver much-needed change on the ground, where Gaza is experiencing a catastrophic humanitarian crisis and the West Bank is seeing a sharp rise in Jewish settler attacks against Palestinians and increased Israeli military raids among other challenges.

The problem is Israel vowed to never recognise a Palestinian state. Both Israel and the United States boycotted two-state solution meeting held at the sidelines of UNGNA summit. Meanwhile, Israeli officials have warned that recognising Palestine could lead to retribution measures, including annexing new parts of the West Bank. Despite international condemnation, Netanyahu forcefully rejected all criticisms during his address to the UN General Assembly. Before Israeli Prime Minister could begin his speech on September 26, representatives from dozens of nations walked out of the hall in protest. But this type of passive resistance to Israel’s genocidal action in Gaza cannot advance the Palestinian cause further.

Israel’s genocidal war must be opposed on all fronts. And only workers in armament industry in Europe and America can do it by stopping supply of weapons to Israel. But that is not happening as most workers are under the sway of right-wing forces. Amidst a hopeless situation emerged a glimmer of hope when Italian dock workers threatened Israel cargo ban. No government is bothered about stopping the genocide and mass starvation being implemented by the Israel-USA-UK axis. Workers are quite capable of confronting these criminal establishments and coming to the aid of the helpless people of Gaza. In the wake of the Israeli navy’s attack on the Sumud Flotilla, dock workers have started to block Israeli ships in Genoa and Livorno, Italy—to stop Israel’s war machine.       

03-10-2025

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Frontier
Vol 58, No. 18, Oct 26 - Nov 1, 2025