It may be an oxymoron to say there’s good news from devastated Gaza, but it was good to learn that the United Kingdom, Canada, Portugal and Australia have all pledged to recognize a Palestinian state. They also promised to support a two-state solution to the war-torn territory.
This measure comes as Israel steps up its assault on areas they suspect to be infested with Hamas fighters, with little consideration for the ever-increasing collateral damage. Of course, and I may be wrong, but I don’t recall Trump saying anything about this during his address to the UN General Assembly on Sept. 23, where much of the speech was given to savaging the UN and promoting his self-interest.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said that “Canada recognizes the State of Palestine and offers our partnership in building the promise of a peaceful future for both the State of Palestine and the State of Israel.” Mahmoud Abbas, president of Palestine, weighed in on the announcement, saying the solution “would allow the State of Palestine to live side by side with the State of Israel in security, peace, and good neighborliness.”
But Danny Danon, Israel’s UN ambassador, viewed it all as “empty declarations that ignore reality and the sinister forces of our region do not advance anything. “No declaration of any country will change the simple fact that before everything the hostages must be returned and that Hamas must be defeated. The defeat of Hamas and the end of the war will not be achieved by performative speeches at the UN, but by the sustained pressure and activities on the ground by the State of Israel.”
But as we know so well that brutal truth is on the march, with even the West Bank and the Gaza Strip under siege. Even when the adversaries talk in terms of peace initiatives they can’t find agreement.
Trump mentioned the conflict but as Danon noted, all the speechifying is merely performative, and that, unfortunately, seems to be the last word on the ceasefire and the two-state solution.
At this stage of the war, simply bringing all the leaders to the same table feels like an unattainable goal. Meanwhile, the genocide — which even some Israeli organizations and institutions acknowledge is occurring — goes on, and on, and on.