Global Surge to Recognize Palestinian State; Israel Faces Growing Isolation
webangah News Agency, International Desk: Australia is the latest G8 country to pledge recognition of an independent Palestine. Though, long before Western capitals took action, recognition of Palestine had already resonated across India, Indonesia, South Africa, and much of Latin America-a response rooted in shared calls for justice and anti-colonial solidarity.
At the United Nations General Assembly meeting planned for September 2025, Australia, France, the UK, and Canada intend to formally recognize palestine as a sovereign state-an declaration made last July. Among thes four countries, France appears uniquely committed to this step unconditionally.In contrast, Australia, the UK, and Canada have only signaled potential or conditional recognition.
Some view these moves as meaningful steps toward revisiting the increasingly faltering two-state solution regarding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict-especially given that France and the UK are permanent members of the UN Security Council. Yet others have described these declarations as “too little too late.”
The French government defended its decision by calling it “a summons to all nations worldwide: play your part in building peace.Join this irreversible movement we have initiated.”
At this critical juncture,it’s crucial to recall that over 145 nations had already endorsed this call earlier. History shows that postcolonial leaders and peoples were among the earliest and most steadfast advocates for a just and lasting resolution to this seemingly endless tragedy. In that context,the French admission that depriving a people of their right to self-determination inevitably leads-albeit belatedly-to anger,military aggression,and war is noteworthy. Understanding this historical background helps clarify how Palestinian struggles for autonomy connect closely with long-standing fights against colonialism and racism.
In June 1947-even before India won independence from British rule-Jawaharlal Nehru,would-be first prime minister,wrote Albert Einstein condemning Nazi policies,fascism,and emphasizing Palestinian suffering.He warned that efforts “to subdue” Palestinians would “not resolve but perpetuate conflict.” Powerful Western states at THAT time disregarded his warning.
As more countries gained freedom from European colonial domination,pursuing a fair settlement on Palestine became essential for establishing global justice in postcolonial times.Atthe1955 Asian-African conference in Bandung-the gathering of delegates from 29 Asianand African countries-the final communiqué stated:
“Given existing tensions relating to Palestine’s statusinthe Middle Eastandthe threat such tensions pose tothe world peace,the Asian-African Conference declares supportforthe rightsaddressedbythe ArabPalestinianpeopleandcallsforimplementingUN resolutions on Palestinetowardapeaceful resolutionofthe issue.”
The Bandung Conference laid foundations forthe Non-Aligned Movement;which regularly issued statements supportingPalestine through international forums.The Organizationof African Unity-which became thee African Unionin1999-repeatedly spoke out in supportofPalestine,oftendrawingsimilaritiesbetweenSouthAfrican ApartheidregimesandIsraeli repression tactics.
After Yasser Arafat,PLO chairman declared Palesti neastatea sovereign nation in1988,severalAsianandAfricancountries-including Cubaand Nicaragua-recognizedit.In2011,several Latin Americancountries including Chile,BrazilArgentina,Bolivia,and Ecuadorexpanded recognitions.Sweden wasEurope’sfirst Western nationtorecognizePalestine asa statein2014;recently,a few others including Slovenia Spain Ireland,and Norwayhave followed suit.
Apartheid Crime
Since1994 South Africa has become oneofPalestine’s staunch supporters anda criticofIsraeli oppression.South African anti-apartheid activists saw parallels between injusticeexercised by a whites-only regimeandt heir fightagainstEuropeanJewishfascismandracism;theyalso notedsimilaritiesbetweenIsraelian d apartheid-era SouthAfricaregimes.As aconsequenceoneofthepost-apartheidstategovernment’searliestactions wasrecognitionofa stateof Palestinain1995.In2002 Archbishop Desmond Tutu published an essay entit led”Apartheid intheHoly Land,”outliningalignmentsofits apartheid regimewith Isra elipolicies.Reiteratingthoseviews with moral clarityat PresbyterianChurchGeneralAssemblybiennialmeetingin2014,Tutu emergedasaglobalvoiceofhope stating:
“I know israelhascreatedanapartheid realitywithinitsbordersandt hroughoccupation.Thesimilaritieswith my belovedSouthAfricaare painfullyobvious…The obstinacy o fIsraeli leadersinholdingontoterritorythatdonotbelongtothem canonly leadto disaster.”
The1973ApartheidsConventionadoptedbytheUnitedNationsGeneralAssembly explicitly recognizedapartheitasaninternationalcrime.Afterward,in1998,the Rome StatuteoftheInternationalCriminalCourt classifiedapartheitasa crimeagainst humanity.In2021Human RightsWatchreleaseda landmark reportdocumenting evidencethat Palestiniansare dispossessedcontroleddominate dbasedonthei ridentity,inways sometimes rising tomagnitudeofa crimesagainsthumanityincluding apartheidandtorture.Importantly,thisreport does not equateIsrael with apartheid-era SouthAfrica butlists actions allegedly surpassing thresholdsdefiningapartheitunder international law.
TurningPoint: WhatisNext?
Today,wearestandingagainata turning point.Genocidemustbeaddedto crimesalready identifiedas apartheit.South Africa remains themost prominentcountryconstantly highlightingglobal attentionninga ctsdescribed autr atrocities wroughtby Israeli regime.OtherGlobal Southnationslastingly support Palestiniansbuthavenotenabledchangeon ground.amidcurrent atrocities occurring GazaWest Bank israel we may ask:”Whatnew elementdoFranceUKAustraliaCanada ‘snamingPalestinemeansthatwillmakedifference?”
These symbolicacts indicatethat Israeliactionsdecisionsstatements arenolonger acceptedbyglobal community evenhistoricalallies.Dechallenge togetinternational legitimacy should compel Israel topauseandreconsider.
NelsonMandela ‘swordsfrom1997 remain ast true todayas theywere then:
“Inour situation,the temptationistospeakabout Palestinianpeoplerightstoan independentstateindiscreet cautious tones.but ifwedoso,we lessenourownhumanity.Trying brotherhoodequal humanrights – irrespectiveofday religionrace – mustbedrivingcenter ourpeace endeavors.Freedomjustice areno t acrisis choicesvspeaceprosperity.Onlypossiblesecurity requireshare denjoyment.nous recognisefreedomSouthAfricans incompletewithoutfreedom Palestinian.AccordinglysituationsEastTimorSudanother regionsmatter.Security isn’tabstractorexclusive.Security interconnectedrespecttrust.so reachingoutacross miles toward्वरエoplescomplete reflection humanity unity.”
Predictingoutcomes UNGatheringssoonndi fficult.Itremains possibleif uncertainthatAustraliaFranceUKCanada willformallyrecognizeState Palestinao Such actionlikelywillnotfundamentally altercurrent PalestinestatusintheUN since recognition asa sovereign non-memberobserv erwouldnotautomatically conferfull membership.TheUSpossesses veto powerSecurityCouncil presently blocking full membership.Theremainsuncertaintyhowwesternaction might stop ongoing Israeli assaults against Palestine.
CertainisalmostmajorityUNGA membersnow echo longstanding oppositiontototal control imposedupon Palestinianpeople by israel.But unlikelycurrentlysuch appeals willimpact isra elifollow这ainingobstinaced espitemountingworldwidecondemnationevenhistorical allies.Likepersistentpressurehelped endS outhAfri ca’ sapartment era,c ontinuepublic opinion mustpersist applying pressure on isra eli regime.
