Recently, calls for Western countries to recognize the State of Palestine have become increasingly popular. As is known, with the exception of these countries, the majority of members of the United Nations (139/193) have recognized the current Palestinian territories as a unified state.
Such recognition appears to be under consideration by the US, which has previously vetoed most efforts to recognise a Palestinian state. The UK, a US ally, is also considering it, despite having opposed it in the past.
In February, British Foreign Secretary David Cameron said: "What we need to do is give the Palestinian people a vision of a better future, a future with a state of their own."
At the United Nations, Palestine is considered a "non-member observer state". Photo: AFP.
In particular, a major shift in the policy of Western countries in Europe has just taken place, when Spain, Norway and the Republic of Ireland simultaneously recognized the State of Palestine.
The countries said the decision to recognise the State of Palestine would speed up efforts to secure a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza, now in its eighth month.
Why is this issue controversial?
For many countries in the West, most of which do not recognize the State of Palestine, the change in the status of Palestinians would come with the successful negotiations for a two-state solution where Israel and Palestine coexist side by side.
This is why the announcement of recognition of the State of Palestine is so controversial. Some say that recognition of the State of Palestine would be the first step towards a lasting and peaceful solution to the decades-long conflict.
But others argue that unless conditions on the ground change, recognition will not bring any benefits, so full power should continue to be left to the State of Israel.
Positive impact
Recognition would give the State of Palestine more political, legal and even symbolic power. In particular, the Israeli occupation or annexation of Palestinian territory would become a more serious legal issue.
“Such a change would lay the groundwork for permanent status negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians, not as a concession between occupier and occupied, but between two equal entities in the eyes of international law,” the former State Department official wrote in the Los Angeles Times earlier this year, having resigned over disagreements with US policy in Gaza.
Map showing which countries have recognized and are about to recognize the State of Palestine (black indicates countries that have not recognized it, red indicates recognition and blue indicates recognition). Graphic photo: Jaimee Haddad / L'Orient Today
Perhaps the biggest advantage for the Palestinians, however, is symbolic. A Palestinian state could take Israel to some international court, but that would be a long way off, according to Middle East analyst Philip Leech-Ngo.
For the Palestinian Authority, recognition is their entire wish and ideal, said analyst Leech-Ngo. The Palestinian Authority currently administers only a few areas in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, which are recognized as an officially representative part of the Palestinian people.
However, "the government cannot offer the Palestinian public much. They cannot confront Israel, they cannot improve the lives of the Palestinian people under their jurisdiction... So the only thing they can do for the Palestinian people is to make promises of international recognition," said Leech-Ngo.
What are the disadvantages?
Recent polls show that most Israelis do not want a Palestinian state. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said so repeatedly over the years. For Israel and its supporters, there are concerns that if a Palestinian state is recognized, it could be a victory for those who advocate violence.
Jerome Segal, director of the International Peace Consultancy, said in February that if the State of Palestine were recognized now, Hamas could use the recognition to demonstrate that only armed struggle would yield results.
Palestine has joined various international organizations, such as UNESCO, where it is recognized as a state. Photo: AFP
Despite the legal and symbolic advantages, recognizing a Palestinian state would not immediately change anything on the ground.
"First and foremost, the Israeli political leadership is determined to prevent Palestinian independence at all costs. Second, the Palestinian leadership is completely divided and has virtually no legitimacy within the country. All of these obstacles have only gotten worse since October 7," said Dahlia Scheindlin of the American think tank Century International.
Middle East analyst Leech-Ngo points out that if a Palestinian state were suddenly recognized, huge problems would not be immediately solved.
“There will still be occupation, there will still be settlements, Gaza will still be devastated, the borders will still lack control… Ultimately, there will still be many problems that will not be solved immediately,” he concluded.
Ngoc Anh (according to DW)
Source: https://www.congluan.vn/viec-cong-nhan-nha-nuoc-palestine-co-y-nghia-gi-post296694.html
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