Dr. Anwar Gargash, diplomatic advisor to the UAE President, emphasized that recognizing a Palestinian state counters efforts to entrench occupation or impose a one-state solution in the Middle East.
On Sunday, Britain, Canada, Australia, and Portugal all recognized a Palestinian state.
This decision by four Western nations, traditionally allies of Israel, aligns them with over 140 countries that support Palestinians’ aspirations to establish an independent homeland from the occupied territories.
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The widespread recognition faced strong criticism from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. “I have a clear message for those leaders who recognize a Palestinian state after the horrific massacre of October 7: You are rewarding terrorism,” he said, referencing the 2023 Hamas attack on Israel that led to the nearly two-year conflict in Gaza.
“And I have another message for you: It will not happen. A Palestinian state will not be established west of the Jordan River.”
The Hamas-led attack on Israel resulted in 1,200 deaths and 251 hostages, according to Israeli sources. Israel’s subsequent campaign in Gaza has resulted in over 65,000 Palestinian deaths, mostly civilians, according to local health authorities, causing famine, destruction of most buildings, and multiple displacements.
‘The Best Option’
In a post on X, Dr. Gargash stated that recognizing a Palestinian state “strengthens the two-state solution by granting legitimacy to Palestinian national rights and reviving negotiations.”
He reiterated the UAE’s support for the two-state solution, describing it as “the best option for achieving a just peace, away from violence, wars, and fragmentation.”
The UAE has consistently emphasized the importance of international efforts to achieve a comprehensive peace based on the two-state solution in the Palestinian territories.
(With inputs from Reuters)
