Australia is the latest member of the G8, pledging to recognize an independent Palestine. But long before the western capital moved in this direction, Palestinian perceptions resonated in India, Indonesia, South Africa and most of Latin America.
At the upcoming UN General Assembly, Australia, France, the UK and Canada are officially acknowledging Palestine as nations and planning previously announced steps. Of these four, France appears to be the only country that is completely committed to taking a step without a condition. In contrast, Australia, the UK and Canada only speak of possibilities or conditional perception.
Some observers view these actions as key steps to revive the two declining state solutions to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Especially considering France and the UK are permanent members of the UN Security Council. However, others dismissed the move as “too little, too slow.”
France defended its decision by declaring that this was a call to all countries in the world. I will do my part in building peace. Join us in the irreversible moves we have begun.
It is important to remember that most countries of over 145 countries are already listening to this call. History shows that post-colonial leaders and nations are one of the earliest and strongest voices to support a just and lasting solution to this seemingly endless tragedy. France’s recognition that depriving the state of self-determination inevitably leads to anger, violence and war, is therefore welcome, even if it is delayed. Remembering historical contexts also helps to link Palestinian struggles for self-training to a long legacy of anti-colonial and anti-racist movements.
In June 1947, even before India’s independence from Britain, Greetings to become India’s first Prime Minister Jawaharlalnehru wrote down a letter to Albert Einstein, denounced the actions of Nazi Germany, rejected fascism and highlighted the suffering of the Palestinians. Nehru warned that efforts to conquer them “will lead to continuous conflict, not to lead to a resolution.” His warning was ignored by the powerful Western states at the time.
As more countries were freed from European colonial rule, they recognized that a fair solution in Palestine was essential to building a fairer colonial world order. At the Asia-Africa Conference held in Bandung in 1955, where representatives from 29 Asian and African countries gathered, the final communica- tion was called for a united solution to the Palestinian situation and views of tensions resulting from the dangers of world peace, and the Asia-Africa Conference declared support for the rights of the Arab people in Palestinian, and was called for a united solution for the united solution of Palestine.
The Bandung Conference laid the foundation for the non-aligned movement, which consistently issued statements in support of Palestine. The African unity organization – reducing the African Union – has repeatedly defended Palestine, often comparing the repressive policies of South Africa’s apartheid regime with Israeli policies.
When Yassar Arafat, the head of the Palestinian Liberation Agency, declared Palestine as an independent state in 1988, several Asian, African and Latin American countries, including Cuba and Nicaragua, realized this. In 2011, countries such as Chile, Brazil, Argentina, Bolivia and Ecuador expanded this perception. Sweden became the first Western European country to recognize Palestine in 2014, and in recent years Slovenia, Spain, Ireland and Norway have joined the movement.
Apartheid crimes
Since 1994, South Africa has emerged as one of Palestine’s most consistent supporters and one of Israel’s most severe critics. Anti-apartheid activists in South Africa have long been portrayed between the oppression suffered under white majority rule and the Jewish struggle against European fascism. They also highlighted the painful similarities between Israel and South African apartheid. Therefore, one of the new South African government’s first foreign policy laws in 1995 was to recognize Palestine.
In 2002, Bishop Desmond Tutu published “Apartheid at the Holy Land” and compared Israeli policies to the apartheid regime in South Africa.
The 1973 United Nations Apartheid Treaty formally defined apartheid as a crime under international law, and the 1998 International Criminal Court Act confirmed it as a crime against humanity. Human Rights Watch’s 2021 report documented how Palestinians were systematically confiscated and oppressed based on their identity and persecution. Importantly, the report not only compares apartheid in Israel and South Africa, but also argued that Israeli practices meet or exceed the threshold for apartheid under international law.
Turning Point: What happens next?
Today, genocide charges must also be added to the apartheid crime. South Africa remains the first country to bring both accusations against Israel before the world. Many of the Global South have long supported Palestine, but these efforts have yet to fundamentally change reality on earth. In the face of ongoing atrocities in Gaza on the West Bank and the occupation of Palestine, we must ask what is new about France, Britain, Australia and Canada. What specific differences does that make?
Although mostly symbolic, these moves emphasize that Israel’s actions, decisions, and rhetoric are no longer accepted by the international community. This erosion of legitimacy should force Israel to pause and reflect.
It is difficult to predict the outcome of future UN General Assembly sessions. Australia, France, the UK and Canada may, although not certain, have a formative perception of Palestine. However, this does not automatically allow Palestine full UN membership, as it requires Security Council approval. This perception may not have an immediate impact on Israel’s ongoing military campaigns.
But what is certain is that the majority of the United Nations will once again express their rejection of Israel’s rule over the Palestinians.
Israel is unlikely to change courses, at least for now. Yet, even from the closest allies, their rebellion in the face of causing international condemnation will not be maintained indefinitely. Just as sustained global pressure has helped dismantle South Africa’s apartheid regime, global public opinion must also continue to push Israel.
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