A cautionary article in The Guardian warns that the vision promoted by U.S. President Joe Biden regarding the Palestinian state lacks any mention of Resolution 242, potentially resembling a state akin to the Bantustans during South Africa’s apartheid regime. The author emphasizes that three essential aspects must form the foundation of the anticipated state.
The article highlights British Foreign Secretary David Cameron’s unexpected statement regarding the UK’s potential recognition of a Palestinian state before concluding peace negotiations with Israel. The United States also expressed a possibility of recognizing the Palestinian state post-war in Gaza.
The direction towards recognizing the Palestinian state, based on UN Security Council Resolution 242, which mandates Israel’s withdrawal from territories occupied in 1967 as a prerequisite for peace, aligns with previous initiatives. Notably, the Arab Peace Initiative of 2002, endorsed by all Arab League members and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, including Iran’s support, despite Israel’s rejection.
According to the writer, the state Washington refers to may not include any mention of Resolution 242, resembling puppet states like those in Eastern Ukraine under Russian influence, rather than a legitimate sovereign state. Thus, the new Palestinian state must be built on three pillars: a prohibition against land seizure by force, the necessity to marginalize Israel’s far-right, and genuine reform of the Palestinian National Council.
Legitimizing Occupation
However, if such a Palestinian entity were to materialize, neither Palestinians, the region, nor the international community would perceive it as honoring Israel’s legal obligations or acknowledging Palestinian aspirations. Rather, it would be viewed as legitimizing the occupation, offering no assistance to Israel and its allies in garnering regional support.
The path to progress rests on three indispensable pillars, as per the writer. Firstly, the continued significance of Resolution “242 in 2024” as a cornerstone not solely for addressing the Palestinian issue but also for upholding the principle of rejecting force for land acquisition. The global community closely monitors Western actions in Israel and Palestine, contrasting them with Russia and Ukraine, rejecting the dominance of inconsistency as the prevailing norm.
The second pillar entails implementing genuine reforms within the Palestinian National Council, the legislative body of the Palestine Liberation Organization, to enhance accountability, democracy, and representation.
Lastly, the rejection of Israel’s extremist far-right, embodied in the current government, is crucial to ensure that our actions reflect our values. Consequently, the West must work towards sidelining and isolating Israeli political forces that undermine Israel’s security and global interests in the region.
