Norway, Ireland and Spain decided in 2024: recognition of the Palestinian state. Now Canada, probably the United Kingdom and France. Four questions about the recognition of countries.
1What is needed to recognize a country?
Each country can determine individually which countries it recognizes as such. A recognition is therefore from one country to the other. In the recent statements of support, the limits recognized by the United Nations are seen as a Palestinian state in 1967: Gaza, the West Bank and East Jerusalem. Those areas are recognized by roughly three -quarters of countries as a Palestinian state; The Netherlands belongs to the minority that does not.
There are rules for when an area can be a country. For example, there must be a clear territory, a solid population, effective authority and the capacity to maintain international relationships. These are the ‘Montevideo criteria’: international agreements made in 1933.
Israel argues the argument that the Palestinian state does not meet those criteria, because the Palestinians have no effective authority over their territory. But that criticism is not sustainable, says main lecturer for international criminal law Marieke de Hoon of the University of Amsterdam. “There have been many countries that were recognized, even though they did not meet those criteria, especially around decolonization.” She adds: “Israel’s violations of international law have been destabilizing Palestine for decades, so that Israel is not allowed to invoke the argument that the Palestinians are lacking in effective and stable authority.”
Even though a considerable part of the world recognizes the Palestinian state, the area is not a member of the United Nations. Palestine has been an acting non-member state since 2012. Among the 193 countries that are UN member, a majority supports the recognition of the Palestinian state. But for joining that international community, the approval of the UN Security Council is needed, where the United States can express a veto.
Incidentally, a country can be part of the UN and at the same time not recognized by all members: for example, but a member, is not recognized by more than twenty Member States.
2What does a country commit if it recognizes another country?
Such a recognition between countries is primarily a decision that the two countries are on the same basis. Kushtrim Istefi, senior lecturer international and European law at Utrecht University: “In principle, recognition of a state means that: that you declare that you acknowledge that a country exists.”
There are no direct obligations attached to this recognition, it mainly means that everything becomes possible, says Istefi. ,, You can negotiate, endured with each other. Without that recognition that is not possible, you will not have that right. So recognition of a state means: possibilities. “
3What does the Palestinian state have in concrete terms?
The genocidal warfare in Gaza is not stopped with recognition. The new recognitions also do not mean that the Palestinian state is more, because it doesn’t work that way.
The recognition does mean that, for example, diplomatic traffic and representation can come about between countries, that embassies can be established that a Palestinian passport is valid. Those international relationships are already available through permanent representations. But with recognition, De Hoon says, “those relationships come to an equivalent level, and the posts may be called Embassy.”
Palestine can, to a country that recognizes it, require support for self -defense. It can conclude with another country. But Istefi does not expect that that will happen. ,, First: because countries with recognition do not accept an obligation to offer defense intersection. It’s a choice. Secondly: countries have no interest in going so far in a fight against a country that they still regard as an ally. “
It helps Palestine to be a state, says Göran Sluiter, professor of international criminal law at the University of Amsterdam. For international conflicts, so if two countries are involved, or more, the rules are stricter than for an ‘internal’ conflict. “The International Criminal Court has already said: we see this conflict as a combination of internationally armed conflict and an internal conflict.”
For the future, still indefinitely when exactly, bilateral relationships with other countries can help to get help with the development of the country. Maybe, says Istefi, “also help good relationships to offer a breeding ground for non-Hamas forces.”
4For what purpose do countries now come with recognition?
You can call it a tipping point, says Marieke de Hoon. Although the rest of the world will not immediately proceed with recognition – the United States certainly not. “But it is true that many countries that have traditionally supported Israel now decide that the size is full.” And so proceed to recognize the Palestinian state.
One reason for countries not to do that was that they trusted the process of a two -state solution. “But also before October 7, there was criticism to what extent Israel actually committed to that solution,” says De Hoon. “A number of states that waited for it now concludes: we are turning it, we first acknowledge the Palestinian state, to put pressure on Israel.” So a pressure agent, to make the starvation of the Gazan population stop by Israel and to force a ceasefire.
The recognition of a state can lead to much more, but see experts in international law that are not immediately fully utilized. Kushtrim Istefi: ,, The question of what that recognition means is very complex. It can mean a lot. How I see it: the timing is important here. “
This is not an isolated assessment of state. For example, the United Kingdom waives recognition when Israel proceeds to a cease-fire. Among other things, the Human Rights Organization The Rights Forum finds this problematic: ,, The UK makes Palestine’s right to the existence a political pressure remedy and the right to self -determination of Palestinian conditional. And the ball is also with Israel. That is not a self -determination. “
The way in which countries now justify their recognition or possible recognition of Palestine, says Istefi, is therefore a form of punishment or sanction for what Israel does in Gaza than a consequence of what Palestinians have done to obtain that recognition. “The recognizing countries say in the core:” These horrors are no longer accepted. “
With the cooperation of Bobby Uilen