Between legitimacy and evasion: Reading the West’s recognition of Palestine

For decades, recognition of a Palestinian state has echoed through the halls of the United Nations, on the lips of politicians, and in the chants of crowds.  Recognition is not merely a word uttered in a press release or a line inscribed in the records of diplomacy. It is a step that grants Palestinians a legal standing in the international system, opens doors to treaties and organisations, and amplifies their voice in global forums.  From this perspective, each new recognition is a symbolic and moral gain not to be underestimated. Yet, as Palestinians know from bitter experience, words can sometimes serve to cover the absence of action. Recognition on its own does not halt the bombing of Gaza, freeze settlement […]