This disheartening news comes to us from Joseph Wilson, Melanie Lidman and Joseph Krauss’s article for the Associated Press:
Norway, Ireland and Spain said Wednesday they would recognize a Palestinian state, a historic but largely symbolic move that further deepens Israel’s isolation more than seven months into its grinding war against Hamas in Gaza. Israel immediately denounced the decisions and recalled its ambassadors to the three countries.
Palestinians welcomed the announcements as an affirmation of their decades-long quest for statehood in east Jerusalem, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip — territories Israel seized in the 1967 Mideast war and still controls.
While some 140 countries — more than two-thirds of the United Nations — recognize a Palestinian state, Wednesday’s cascade of announcements could build momentum at a time when even close allies of Israel have piled on criticism for its conduct in Gaza.
It was the second blow to Israel’s international reputation this week after the chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court said he would seek arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his defense minister. The International Court of Justice is also considering allegations of genocide that Israel has strenuously denied.
The international community has long viewed the creation of a Palestinian state alongside Israel as the only realistic way to resolve the conflict, and in past weeks several European Union countries have indicated they plan to recognize a Palestinian state to further those efforts.
In contrast, the United States and Britain, among others, have backed the idea of an independent Palestinian state alongside Israel but say it should come as part of a negotiated settlement.
Great timing, guys. Now: when do you condemn hamas and reject it as the governing force (and I DO mean force, since it is unelected) of Gaza, or any other part of what you have decided to define as “Palestine” (which, in fact, is the land area encompassing Israel, Jordan, Gaza and Judea/Samaria (the west bank)?
Or are you going to recognize it as a legitimate governing entity, despite the fact that Gaza has had no elections in 18 years (15 for “the west bank”), and most of the “aid” money the world salves its conscience by sending there winds up building military tunnels, buying armaments for the purpose of annihilating Israel and killing Israelis – preferably Jews – or in the pockets of its “leaders” – the ones who are supposed to use it for their people?
After almost 58 centuries this kind of behavior should come as no surprise to Jews. But it still hurts. And it remains every bit as ugly and stupid now as it always has been.
