Editorial: Temper expectations on Palestine

Decisive global action against Israel alone can alter the course of the one-sided war in Gaza

The growing international recognition for Palestinian statehood — France being the latest to join the chorus of support — is a welcome development, but there is a need to temper expectations. The bitter reality is that no Palestinian state can come into effect without consent from the United States and Israel. Given the entrenched positions and Israel’s utter disregard for international conventions, the goal appears unattainable in the near future. The horrendous tragedy unfolding in Gaza and the ineffectiveness of the international community to stop the genocide are a testimony to this. There were several opportunities in the past to hammer out a two-state solution to the prolonged conflict, but they were squandered away by both sides — first by Yasser Arafat of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) and later by the successive regimes in Israel. At the ongoing annual session of the United Nations General Assembly, France became the latest global power to recognise a Palestinian state, a day after the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia did so. More than 140 countries, including India, endorse the idea of a Palestinian state. While these developments reflect a sense of hope and optimism, it must be pointed out that decisive global action against Israel alone can alter the course of the one-sided war in Gaza. Israel shows no inclination to honour international opinion and has, instead, intensified its fresh offensive into Gaza City, and its Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is on record saying the war won’t end even if Hamas releases all its hostages.

The United States continues to provide unconditional material and military support to Israel. As a result, while the recognition of Palestine by more countries does increase international diplomatic pressure on Israel, there is little immediate impact on the war in Gaza. At present, Israel holds sway over pretty much the entire Palestinian territories by virtue of its occupation of the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and now the Gaza Strip, and its decades-long control over air, land, and sea access to all these regions. An ideal goal, which India has been steadfastly supporting, is to have a two-state solution, with a safe and secure Israel alongside a viable and sovereign Palestinian state. However, it still remains a distant dream as long as America continues to shield Tel Aviv from international pressure by vetoing resolutions at the UN. Under the Trump Administration, America has leaned heavily in favour of Israel. Without the backing of Israel’s closest and most powerful ally, it is virtually impossible for the peace process to make any significant progress toward reaching the goal of a two-state solution. However, a major takeaway from the latest developments is that America’s influence is waning and its monopoly over the peace efforts is crumbling rapidly under the weight of its own contradictions and its inability to hold Israel accountable for expanding settlements and disproportionate military responses in Gaza and the West Bank.

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