Blinken: Western countries morally right to recognize Palestine, but they’re doing so hastily

Former US secretary of state Antony Blinken argues that the growing number of Western countries planning to recognize a Palestinian state in September are well-intentioned, but are going about the effort in the wrong way.

“With the Gaza crisis still unfolding, this focus on recognition seems totally beside the more pressing realities. Amid the suffering of Palestinian civilians and Israeli hostages—and Israel’s announced plan to occupy all or part of the enclave—averting famine, recovering the hostages and ending the conflict in Gaza are the priorities. Talk of two states can wait,” he writes in an op-ed for the Wall Street Journal.

“Unconditionally recognizing Palestine won’t produce a Palestinian state or end suffering in Gaza. Failing to require that Palestinians commit to steps to ensure Israel’s security in return for recognition would fortify proponents of terror on the Palestinian side and rejectionists of Palestinian statehood on the Israeli side,” he argues.

“There’s a better way forward. France, the UK, Canada and Australia should adopt, and the US should embrace, a time-bound, conditions-based path toward recognizing a Palestinian state. Start and end points are a must, because no one will accept an endless process. Palestinians need a clear and near horizon for political self-determination,” Blinken says.

“Recognition should also be conditions based. While Palestinians have a right to self-determination, with that right comes responsibility. No one should expect Israel to accept a Palestinian state that is led by Hamas or other terrorists, that is militarized or has independent armed militias, that aligns with Iran or others that reject Israel’s right to exist, that educates and preaches hatred of Jews or Israel, or that, unreformed, becomes a failed state,” he continues.

“Addressing these conditions over the next three years —a reasonable time frame— can show Israel and the world that an independent Palestine will be focused on building a state, not destroying Israel,” he adds.