VIDEO: Palestinian FM: Upcoming state recognition at UN sends strong message to Israel

Palestinian Foreign Minister Varsen Aghabekian Shahin told Agence France-Presse (AFP) on Wednesday that the planned recognition of a Palestinian state by several countries at a UN summit sends a “very clear message” to 'Israel' regarding its “illusions” of maintaining control over Gaza and the West Bank.

Countries including Australia, Belgium, Canada, France, and the United Kingdom have announced intentions to formally recognize Palestine at a UN summit co-chaired by Riyadh and Paris on September 22 in New York.

Shahin, expressing frustration at the European Union’s inaction during the nearly two-year war on Gaza, described the move as “the long-awaited fulfilment of a promise made by the international community to the Palestinians.”

'Israeli' Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has maintained that “there will be no Palestinian state,” and last month 'Israel' approved a major West Bank settlement project that has been criticized internationally for undermining the prospects of a future Palestinian state.

- Recognition and its impact -

Shahin emphasized that while recognition will not immediately alter conditions on the ground, it is far from symbolic.

“This recognition will not immediately change things on the ground,” she said. “But it builds up towards ending the aggression on the Gaza Strip. Recognition is not symbolic. It is something that is very important because it sends a very clear message to the Israelis on their illusions on continuing their occupation forever. And it sends a clear message to the Palestinians that ‘we are with your right to self-determination.’”

She added that recognition strengthens the two-state concept, giving Palestinians “a push for the future, because we will build on it,” and noted that countries granting recognition will carry obligations tied to their commitment.

- Responding to 'Israeli' criticism -

Shahin addressed 'Israel’s' opposition to state recognition, saying the world now understands the country’s actions as “an expansionist, annexationist state.”

“Israel is telling the world that: ‘I want to go forward, I want to build this greater Israel,’ which entails the infringement on the security and independence and sovereignty of neighbouring states,” she said.

She warned that continued non-recognition empowers extremists and stressed that Palestinians will continue to assert their rights, “We will not take this any further. We are just asking for our rights as enshrined in international law.”

Shahin also criticized 'Israel' for settling land and restricting movement, “We see the gates that are erected on the entrances of villages and cities. There will be increased violence. Israel cannot continue to act as a state above the law because if Israel wants to live in the area in peace and security, it needs to act as a normal state.”

- On US opposition and conditional recognition -

Shahin remained optimistic about eventual US alignment with international consensus. “Eventually there will be the whole world on one side and probably Israel and a few countries on the other side. I think (recognition) is a game changer, and as such we need to look at it positively and continue moving forward.”

Regarding conditions tied to Gaza ceasefire or Hamas disarmament, she said, “On the disarming of Hamas, I think there is a consensus on this in the Arab world, in the Islamic world, I think a worldwide consensus on the disarming. And even Hamas is saying that we do not want to have a part in the governance of Gaza in the day after. And I think if a peace agreement is reached, and there is a ceasefire, a permanent one, that should not be the problem.”