Over a century after the Balfour Declaration endorsed the establishment of a Jewish national home in Palestine, the United Kingdom, alongside Canada, Australia, and Portugal, officially recognized a Palestinian state on Sunday. France is anticipated to follow suit shortly. This historic decision has ignited fierce backlash from the Israeli government, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowing to prevent the establishment of a Palestinian state and promising a response upon his return from the United States. Israeli government spokesperson David Mencer labeled the move as a “betrayal” by the UK Labour Party, stating that the Jewish community would not forgive them. The announcement has sparked a polarized response on social media, with some dismissing it as “performative recognition” that fails to address the ongoing genocide in Gaza and the annexation of the West Bank. Palestinian writer Yara Hawari criticized the gesture as a symbolic shield for Israel’s war crimes, while others highlighted the continued arms exports to Israel by the UK, Canada, and Australia. Palestinian journalist Abubaker Abed emphasized that recognition would be meaningless without concrete actions to end the genocide, secure the right of return, and release Palestinian hostages. Despite some hailing the move as a victory for the Palestinian cause, many in the occupied West Bank expressed skepticism, noting that daily settler attacks and Israeli raids persist. Decolonial scholar Sabreena Ghaffar-Siddiqui viewed the recognition as a symbolic acknowledgment of Israel’s inevitable decline, while former PLO politician Hanan Ashrawi urged that the gesture not be underestimated, calling for punitive measures against Israel to stop the genocide.
Global reactions pour in as UK, Australia and Canada recognise Palestinian state
