Al raya: The newspaper Al Raya highlighted the rapid shifts taking place around the Palestinian issue on the international stage, noting the growing number of formal recognitions of the State of Palestine. This trend, the paper argued, is deepening Israel's isolation and increasing global pressure on the occupation.
According to Qatar News Agency, in its editorial today, the paper pointed out that 149 countries have now recognized Palestine, with the latest being French President Emmanuel Macron's announcement that France intends to officially recognize Palestine in September.
The editorial emphasized that this growing international recognition is not merely symbolic, but a legal and political boost that strengthens the rights of the Palestinian people and accelerates efforts toward securing full UN membership. It also intensifies global pressure on Israel to end its settlement and aggression policies.
In a broader context, the paper said that the Palestinian issue is witnessing a rapid transformation globally, driven by rising official recognitions and mounting public and diplomatic pressure urging the international community to take a firm stance against the Israeli occupation.
The newspaper linked this momentum to past UN resolutions, notably UN General Assembly Resolution 3236 of 1974, which affirmed the Palestinian people's right to self-determination, independence, and sovereignty, and recognized the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) as their sole legitimate representative, granting it observer status at the UN.
Al Raya recalled that in 1988, the UN began officially referring to the PLO as Palestine following the Palestinian Declaration of Independence. However, full UN membership remains elusive for the declared state.
According to the editorial, since the outbreak of the Israeli war on Gaza on Oct. 7, 2023, the issue of Palestinian statehood has regained prominence, with 149 out of 193 UN member states now recognizing Palestine.
In 2024, Spain, Ireland, and Norway joined the list of recognizing countries, following Sweden, which in 2014 became the first EU member state to do so, along with earlier recognitions by countries like the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Bulgaria, Romania, and Cyprus.
The paper also noted that President Macron plans to announce France's recognition of Palestine during his speech at the UN General Assembly this September, describing the move as part of France's historic commitment to a just and lasting peace in the Middle East.
The editorial concluded by asserting that this wave of recognition is more than symbolic; it marks a turning point in the conflict. It not only reinforces Palestinians' legitimate political and legal rights and supports their bid for full UN membership, but also deepens Israel's global isolation and amplifies international condemnation of its aggressive and expansionist policies.