Recognizing a Palestinian state at this time is the coward’s way out |
First, let me state very clearly that I support the concept of two states, one Jewish and one Palestinian. I support it not because I am very excited about the prospect of one more Arab state that would most likely not tolerate Jewish citizens, but because it’s the only way to ensure that Israel remains a Jewish state. Consequently, I might be expected to root for the recognition of a Palestinian state that several countries have engaged in earlier this year, most notably, Britain, France, Canada, and Australia, but I absolutely do not.
After the antisemitic attack in Australia that killed 15 people (not including one of the attackers) and injured dozens, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese rejected Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s claim that the recognition of Palestinian statehood “pours fuel” on an “antisemitic fire”. Albanese added, “overwhelmingly, most of the world recognizes a two-state solution as being the way forward in the Middle East”.
Netanyahu is probably right about this because recognizing a Palestinian state at a time when Hamas still controls most of Gaza and while it still held Israeli hostages, both alive and dead, seems like an encouragement to violence against Jews, but Albanese’s response is hypocritical for a different reason as well.
Albanese’s response implies that his recognition of a Palestinian state was progress towards a two-state solution when it certainly wasn’t. First and most obviously, appearing to encourage Palestinian violence against Jews does not create progress, on the contrary, but more importantly, recognition of a Palestinian state by Australia, Britain and many others, does not move even one inch towards the creation of a Palestinian state. Since Israel legally controls the West Bank and Gaza, only a recognition by Israel of a Palestinian state would be meaningful.
The deluge of recognitions, however, does not encourage Israel to follow suit. In........