Palestinian Foreign Minister Varsen Aghabekian Shahin has hailed recent diplomatic recognitions of a Palestinian state as irreversible steps that edge the territory closer to full sovereignty and reinforce the two-state solution.
Britain, Canada and Australia formally recognized Palestine recently, a move Palestinians say restores momentum to longstanding efforts for a just settlement. While these recognitions do not immediately halt ongoing conflict in Gaza, Shahin described them as a “move forward” that must be “built on and amplified.”
Shahin said:
“Now is the time. Tomorrow is a historic date we need to build on. It’s not the end.”
“It is a move bringing us closer to sovereignty and independence. It might not end the war tomorrow, but it’s a move forward, which we need to build on and amplify.”
The announcement was welcomed by Palestinian leaders and many in the international community. However, Israel sharply criticized the gesture. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu asserted that a Palestinian state will never come to fruition under his government and Israeli officials questioned the practical impact of recognition without changes on the ground.
The recognitions are viewed as more than symbolic. They are seen by Palestinians as steps toward formalizing statehood securing borders, governance and international legitimacy. But whether this diplomatic shift can translate into substantive change will depend on future actions, both by Palestine itself and by the international community.
