M. Fazal Elahi
Mainstream and social media across the globe echoed on Sunday with the landmark announcement that Britain, Canada, and Australia had formally recognised the State of Palestine. The decision—borne out of deep frustration over the relentless Gaza war and intended to push forward the two-state solution—naturally provoked outrage from Israel. By taking this bold step, these three major Western powers—longstanding allies of Israel—have joined the ranks of nearly 140 other nations that support the Palestinians’ right to an independent homeland carved out of the Israeli-occupied territories. In my column “Israeli Barbarism in Gaza Heightens Beyond Limits”—published in the Daily Pakistan Observer on October 22, 2023—I unequivocally argued that the Two-State Solution is the only viable and enduring answer to the decades-long Israeli-Palestinian conflict. This framework, envisioning Israel for the Jewish people and Palestine for the Palestinian people, is the sole pathway to justice and genuine peace. It is important to recall that as far back as 1993, under the Oslo Accords, the Israeli government and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) committed themselves to this very solution, which also gave rise to the Palestinian Authority (PA). Yet, years of Israeli obstinacy and expansionist ambitions have blocked its realization. The urgent need of the hour is to implement this framework without delay, for it alone can bring lasting peace—not only to Israel and Palestine but to the entire region that has been scarred by this conflict for generations. The international community must now act decisively. Other nations should stand shoulder to shoulder with Britain ??, Canada ??, and Australia ?? by swiftly recognizing the State of Palestine. This is not just a political necessity—it is a moral obligation owed to a people who have endured Israel’s unrelenting barbarism for decades.