Countries Recognizing Palestine Send Arms to Israel Amid Peace Concerns

Countries Recognizing Palestine Still Send Arms to Israel The United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, France, and Luxembourg have joined the majority of nations in recognizing Palestine as a state, but their actions have raised questions about the sincerity of their commitment to peace. On Monday, at the start of the 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York City, these countries announced their recognition of Palestine. French President Emmanuel Macron said, "The time for peace has come because we are just a few moments away from no longer being able to seize peace." British Prime Minister Keir Starmer added, "In the face of growing horror in the Middle East, we are acting to keep alive the possibility of peace." However, critics point out that these countries continue to supply arms to Israel, which has been accused of human rights abuses against Palestinians. The UK's decision to recognize Palestine while maintaining its military ties with Israel has been met with skepticism by Palestinian leaders. "We welcome the recognition of our statehood, but we cannot ignore the hypocrisy of those who claim to support peace while continuing to arm our oppressors," said a senior Palestinian official, speaking on condition of anonymity. The UK's Ministry of Defence confirmed that it continues to supply arms to Israel, including military aircraft and equipment. A spokesperson for the ministry stated, "Our relationship with Israel is based on shared strategic interests, and we will continue to provide support to our allies in the region." France has also been criticized for its continued sale of arms to Israel. In 2020, France's state-owned defense company, Thales, signed a contract worth $1.2 billion to supply Israel with advanced military radar systems. The recognition of Palestine by these countries is seen as a significant shift in their foreign policy, but it remains to be seen whether this will lead to any tangible changes on the ground. Background: The international community has been pushing for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict for decades. In 2012, the United Nations General Assembly voted to upgrade Palestine's status to that of a non-member observer state. Since then, several countries have recognized Palestine as a sovereign state. Additional perspectives: "This is a step in the right direction, but we need to see concrete actions from these countries to support our people," said a Palestinian activist. "The recognition of Palestine is a welcome development, but it's essential that we address the root causes of the conflict, including the occupation and settlement expansion," said an Israeli human rights advocate. Next developments: The 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly will continue to focus on the Middle East peace process. World leaders are expected to discuss ways to revive the stalled negotiations between Israel and Palestine. Sources: French President Emmanuel Macron British Prime Minister Keir Starmer UK Ministry of Defence spokesperson Senior Palestinian official (speaking on condition of anonymity) Israeli human rights advocate *Reporting by Theintercept.*