UK and France Signal Intent to Recognize Palestine, Marking a Shift in Middle East Diplomacy
The UK and France have overturned their previous positions and explicitly expressed their intention to recognize the State of Palestine, fulfilling a long-held aspiration of the Palestinian people. The unrestrained actions of Israel, emboldened by support from the Trump administration in the United States, risk derailing international strategies aimed at achieving peace in the Middle East. Out of this concern, the UK and France have decided to play the "trump card" they have held for years.
To date, members of the G7, including Japan, have yet to recognize Palestine as a state. In their view, such recognition should serve as a diplomatic bargaining chip reserved for the final stages of the complex and arduous peace process.
In advancing the "two-state solution" for peaceful coexistence between Israel and Palestine, major Western powers have traditionally adhered to an implicit strategy: addressing thorny issues such as the status of Jerusalem, border delineation, and the return of refugees first, before recognizing Palestinian statehood.
However, Israel has already played its own "trump card," thanks to none other than Donald Trump. During his first term as president in 2017, Trump unilaterally recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel without any preconditions and relocated the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem.
Israel's military, which launched an invasion of the Gaza Strip, has also achieved significant gains in strikes against Lebanon and Iran, establishing a dominant position in the Middle East. Some far-right factions in Israel have even begun pushing for the annexation of the West Bank, another Palestinian autonomous territory alongside Gaza.
The unchecked actions of Prime Minister Netanyahu's government have heightened Europe's sense of crisis, prompting the UK and France to take the step of recognizing Palestine. On October 29, Keir Starmer explained the rationale behind this decision in a speech, stating, "The 'two-state solution' is being undermined and has become even more distant after years of delay."
Europe also hopes that this move will serve as a check on both the United States and Israel while simultaneously applying pressure on the Palestinian Authority to implement reforms.
Nevertheless, opposition from Israel and the United States could result in further setbacks to the peace process. Trump dismissed Macron's statement on recognizing Palestine as "meaningless," adopting an attitude of outright indifference.
All parties must collaborate with countries in the Global South and work to persuade Trump—who appears eager to play the role of a "deal-maker"—to once again become an honest and impartial mediator.
