Recognising the Palestinian State

Paper: GS – II, Subject: International Relations, Topic: Global Issue, Issue: Palestine State Recognition.

Context:

Recently, several Western countries including France, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and several smaller European nations have formally recognised Palestine as a state.

Key Takeaways:

• This marks a significant diplomatic shift as these countries join over 150 others already recognising Palestinian statehood.

Growing Global Momentum for Palestinian Statehood Recognition:

Following British Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s announcement, French President Emmanuel. 

As the 21-month-long Gaza conflict continues, Israel faces a mounting diplomatic challenge, with an increasing number of its traditional Western allies shifting towards supporting Palestinian statehood.

Current Palestine Recognition Drive: A Diplomatic Turning Point:

• Out of 193 UN member states, 147 have already recognised Palestine, but major Western powers had long resisted, linking recognition to a final Israel-Palestine peace settlement.  That stance is now shifting.
• Russia and China, both UN Security Council (UNSC) permanent members, already recognise Palestine. 
• If France and the UK follow through on their recent pledges, the U.S. will become the only P5 member opposing recognition, isolating itself diplomatically. 
•  The inclusion of France, the UK, and Canada key G7 members adds significant weight, potentially influencing others to follow. 
• Britain’s move is especially historic, given its central role in the Israel-Palestine conflict since the 1917 Balfour Declaration, which endorsed the creation of a Jewish homeland in Palestine.

The Balfour Declaration: Britain’s Endorsement of a Jewish Homeland in Palestine:

• Issued in November 1917, by British Foreign Secretary Sir Arthur Balfour to Zionist Leader Lord Lionel Walter Rothschild, the Balfour Declaration marked Britain’s official support for establishing a Jewish national home in Palestine. 
• At the time, Palestine was under Ottoman rule, with Jews comprising around 9% of its population. 
• The declaration was driven by Britain’s desire to gain global Jewish support during World War I. 
• Earlier efforts, like the Uganda Plan of 1903, had proposed alternative Jewish homelands but were abandoned. 
• The Balfour Declaration, later endorsed by the U.S., became a pivotal moment in Zionist history, legitimising Jewish claims to Palestine and shaping the geopolitical future of the region.

Challenges to Palestine Conflict:

Western recognition of Palestine strengthens its claim to statehood and adds diplomatic pressure for peace, but it cannot by itself resolve the conflict. Lasting peace depends on negotiations, accountability, and addressing political and humanitarian challenges. Recognition remains symbolic yet important in advancing Palestinian rights and sovereignty.

https://indianexpress.com/article/research/recognising-a-palestinian-state-from-1917-to-today-10266769

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