Palestinian Foreign Minister Varsen Aghabekian Shahin stated that the recognition of a Palestinian state by Britain, Canada, and Australia is a significant step towards achieving Palestinian independence and sovereignty. This recognition aims to revive the two-state solution, although it has faced criticism from Israel and the United States. Shahin emphasized that, while it may not immediately end the conflict, it is a crucial move forward.
Israel has condemned the recognition, with some officials claiming it does not alter the situation on the ground. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu asserted that there will never be a Palestinian state, and Shahin pointed out that Israel shows no intent to negotiate. She highlighted Netanyahu’s recent actions to expand settlements in the occupied West Bank.
Shahin stressed that the recognition should be viewed as a serious commitment to preserving the two-state solution, as France and Saudi Arabia have been actively promoting this initiative at the United Nations. U. S. Ambassador Mike Huckabee dismissed the recognition efforts as ineffective, while Israeli officials have increased settlement developments in response to growing international support for Palestinian statehood.
Shahin called for political pressure on Israel to shift towards economic actions to hold it accountable for its actions in Gaza, where she accused it of committing genocide. A recent UN Commission of Inquiry echoed these allegations, alongside findings from various human rights organizations.
With information from Reuters
