By Henry Okurut
In a landmark diplomatic shift; France, Britain and the African Union have announced decisions to recognize the State of Palestine an act that echoes decades of international debate over Palestinian statehood and the enduring Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
The Chairperson of the African Union Commission, H.E. Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, welcomed French President Emmanuel Macron’s declaration of intent to formally recognize Palestine.
Macron’s announcement aligns with the African Union’s consistent support for Palestinian self-determination, reaffirmed most recently during the Thirty-Eighth Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the Union held in Addis Ababa in February 2025.
This move is seen as a significant step toward resolving one of the world’s most protracted and volatile conflicts.
The Israeli-Palestinian dispute traces its roots to the early 20th century, when competing nationalist movements Zionism and Arab nationalism clashed over claims to the same land.
The 1947 UN partition plan proposed separate Jewish and Arab states, but was accepted only by Jewish leaders. The subsequent 1948 Arab-Israeli War led to the creation of Israel and the displacement of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians, sowing the seeds of decades of unrest.
In the decades since, the conflict has been marked by wars, uprisings, failed peace talks, and ongoing disputes over borders, refugees and the status of Jerusalem.
The African Union’s latest statement reiterates its unwavering support for a two-State solution envisioning Israel and Palestine coexisting peacefully and securely, in accordance with international law and UN resolutions.
Britain has also joined the chorus of recognition, with Prime Minister Keir Starmer pledging to acknowledge Palestinian statehood should Israel fail to reach a cease-fire agreement in Gaza by September.
This follows France’s announcement last week and reflects growing frustration over Israel’s military actions in Gaza and the occupied West Bank.
While nearly 140 countries already recognize Palestine, the decisions by France and Britain; both influential Western powers signal a potential turning point.
They also raise critical questions about the practical implications of recognition, especially in the absence of a negotiated peace agreement.
These developments underscore a renewed international push to address the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people, whose quest for statehood has remained unresolved for over 75 years.
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