Canada, Australia, Portugal and UK recognize Palestinian statehood

Recognition of Palestine from Canada and Australia comes in coordination with the UK before UN General Assembly meeting this week.

Canada, Australia, and Portugal have joined the United Kingdom in formally recognising Palestinian statehood as Israel plans to expand settlements in the occupied West Bank and intensifies its war on Gaza.

 

In a statement on Sunday, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney announced the recognition of a Palestinian state and offered “our partnership in building the promise of a peaceful future for both the State of Palestine and the State of Israel”.

Carney added that the Israeli government was working “methodically to prevent the prospect of a Palestinian state from ever being established”.

“Recognising the State of Palestine, led by the Palestinian Authority, empowers those who seek peaceful coexistence and the end of Hamas. This in no way legitimises terrorism, nor is it any reward for it,” Carney said.

He added that the Palestinian Authority provided “direct commitments” to Canada on reforming its governance; holding general elections next year, which Hamas “can play no part” in; and demilitarising the Palestinian state.

At the same time, Australia announced that it was also recognising Palestinian statehood.

In a statement by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Australia said its recognition alongside Canada’s and the UK’s was part of an international effort for a two-state solution.

 

Albanese said in a joint statement with Foreign Minister Penny Wong that the decision was meant to revive momentum for a two-state solution that begins with a ceasefire in Gaza and the release of captives held in Gaza.

But the statement reiterated that Hamas must have “no role in Palestine”.

Later on Sunday Portugal’s Foreign Minister Paulo Rangel confirmed that his country had also recognised Palestinian statehood.

“The recognition of the state of Palestine is the realisation of a fundamental, constant, and fundamental line of Portuguese foreign policy,” Rangel said at the UN headquarters in New York.

Canada’s and Australia’s recognition of Palestinian statehood appears to have been coordinated with the UK, where Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced that his country was formally recognising a Palestinian state shortly after the announcements from Ottawa and Canberra.

Starmer said recognition would “revive hope for peace for the Palestinians and Israelis and a two-state solution”

However, the announcements from major Western powers – and longtime Israeli allies – indicated that Israel is growing increasingly isolated internationally in light of its war on Gaza, where it has killed more than 65,200 Palestinians.

Israel and the United States have repeatedly said recognising Palestinian statehood in the midst of the war in Gaza would be a “reward” for Hamas.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reiterated that message in his reaction to Sunday’s recognition of Palestine, saying that it was a “prize” for Hamas.

He added that a Palestinian state “will not happen”.

At the United Nations General Assembly in New York next week, more countries have pledged to recognise Palestine, including France.

Source: Al-Jazeerah