The UK, Canada, Australia And Portugal Have All Formally Recognized Palestine As A State
The three countries — all long-time allies of both Israel and the US — made separate but coordinated statements on Sunday, Sept. 21, marking the first time members of the G7 have taken the step.
The UK, Canada and Australia have announced they formally recognize Palestine as a state, despite opposition from Israel and the US, saying the move is needed to keep a future with a two-state solution alive.
The three countries — all long-time allies of both Israel and the US — made separate but coordinated statements on Sunday, Sept. 21, marking the first time members of the G7 have taken the step.
Canada was the first to declare recognition, with Prime Minister Mark Carney calling it “a step toward a peaceful future for both the State of Palestine and the State of Israel.”
Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese followed, saying the decision would “bring the Middle East closer to lasting peace and security.”
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer then said recognition was meant to revive the hope of peace and keep alive the prospect of a two-state solution, while stressing that the UK “will keep fighting to bring home Israeli hostages.”
The UK’s decision came more than 100 years after its former prime minister Lord Arthur James Balfour paved the way to the establishment of Israel and the occupation of Palestine by writing the Balfour Declaration.
In 1917, while serving as the foreign minister, he wrote the Balfour Declaration, which is a letter endorsing establishing a Jewish homeland in Palestine.
More than 151 members of the United Nations already recognize Palestine, a number that has grown as the international community intensifies its criticism of Israel’s genocide in Gaza.
Later the same day, Portugal also announced it will formally recognize Palestine, saying that a two-state solution was the “only path to a just and lasting peace.”
France, which has also promised to recognize Palestine, and several other countries are expected to follow at the UN General Assembly being held this week on Sept. 22.
The announcements come just days after the US vetoed a UN Security Council resolution for a Gaza ceasefire for the sixth time, standing as the only vote against while 14 members supported it.
In response, Israel prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu threatened the world not to recognize Palestine, saying “there will be no Palestinian state”, adding that the recognition “is giving a huge reward to terrorism.”
Cherry Mohamed
Flavie Chen
Sofia Hou
