The ‘Recognition Awards Hamas’ Lie

Recognition of the State of Palestine by countries that have supported the two-state solution for years, but only recognized one of them, is not a reward for Hamas or for terrorism. It is a correction of a policy of duplicity and places action where only (empty) words were uttered until now. Whoever makes the claim that the recognition of the State of Palestine rewards Hamas is clearly not interested in Israeli-Palestinian peace. It is not surprising that this claim is being made by right-wing Israelis, including illegal settlers, and right-wing politicians from around the world.

Let’s set the record straight: Hamas have never supported the two-state solution. Hamas was officially launched after Yasser Arafat declared independence for the State of Palestine and recognized Israel on November 15, 1988. Hamas opposed any kind of recognition of Israel then as it does today. Recognition of the State of Palestine is an affirmation that the horrific war in Gaza must be the last Israeli-Palestinian war and that from the traumas and horrors of the past 22 months, peace must emerge.

There are 7 million Israeli Jews and 7 million Palestinian Arabs living on the land of Israel/Palestine between the River and the Sea. They have been fighting, dying, willing to kill for a territorial expression of their identity. The way to resolve the conflict and make peace is for both peoples to have the right to self-determination, and it is the moral and historic obligation of the international community to recognize the national rights of both peoples on the Land. If 192 member states of the United Nations recognize the State of Palestine, but Israel does not, the occupation and the conflict will continue. But that does not relieve the member states of the UN from their responsibility and obligation to recognize both states now: the State of Israel and the State of Palestine.

If you believe in Israeli-Palestinian peace, then you understand that only the two-state solution can resolve the conflict. So recognition of the State of Palestine now is a recognition and support to those who want to live in peace in Israel and Palestine.

From the River to the Sea, On Two States We Agree!