The world observes a new diplomatic shaking in an attempt to stop the. This Monday, September 22, 2025, the United Nations General Assembly will carry out a In New York to address the problem.
Before this event, several countries have joined the official recognition of Palestine as a sovereign state. , while France is expected to do this Monday. Currently, they are already 150 countries that have taken this stepwho has significantly angry at the president of Israel, Isaac Herzogwho has described the decision as “a sad day for those who seek true peace.”
He has also warned that this recognition “It will not help a single Palestinian, it will not help free a single hostage and will not allow us to reach any agreement between Israelis and Palestinians,”. “Solo will be emboldened to the forces of darkness“He wrote in his X account, referring to Hamas.
However, international leaders defend that two -states solution It is the. “It’s the The only way to follow that allows us to respond to the legitimate aspirations of the Israelis and the Palestinians“said the president of France, Emmanuel Macronin July. But what really means legitimately recognize the state of Palestine and what implications can have?
How is a state recognized?
The recognition of a new state is a Unilateral, voluntary and declarative action by which It is explicitly stated (of IUre) or implicit (de facto) the existence of said entity as a stateand the intention of treating it as a subject of international law, collected in it, is expressed, with the ability to establish links with other states.
The traditional doctrine of international law establishes that the power to carry out this action falls on the Heads of State and Governmentas well as in the Foreign Ministers. For its part, The prior approval of Parliament or the Courts is not required.
This recognition inevitably involves the acceptance of his government as legitimate. Although there is no universal procedure for recognition, international law establishes four essential conditions for an entity to be considered as such:
- A population fixed and lasting.
- And territory clearly defined.
- And government that exercises sovereignty.
- The Aptitude to relate to other states.
To these traditional criteria, contemporary doctrine, especially after the disintegration of Yugoslavia and the emergence of new states, added others Complementary requirements:
- Not having been created by using or threat of forceor by a unilateral statement.
- Commitment to the rule of law, democracy, human rights and the protection of minorities.
- Respect for territorial integrity and adhesion at the beginning of peaceful resolution of conflicts.
What implications do you have?: More than a symbolic gesture
The recognition of a State is not a symbolic gesture, but it implies the International Legal Personality Concessionwhich enables that entity to exercise rights and assume Obligations Within the framework of law international. This condition is essential to participate in treaties, agreements and multilateral organisms.
One of the most visible effects is the possibility of establishing full diplomatic relationswhich includes, for example, the Embassy opening and the Exchange of diplomatsalthough these measures may be conditioned by political or security factors.
In the specific case of Palestine, this act may give more weight to the UN resolutions that require the end of the occupation, although it does not seem the definitive solution to the problem. “Recognition is a erroneous substitute for boycott and punitive measures that should be taken against a country that perpetuates the genocide “, the columnist Gideon Levy In the Israeli newspaper Haaretz.
“Recognition It is pure talk… This It will not stop the genocidethat it will not stop without practical measures of the international community, “he added.
To Hugh LovattSenior Investigator of Policies of the Program of the Middle East and North Africa of the European Board of Foreign Affairs (ECFR), It is a symbolic gesturealthough he defends that it can be good.
“Symbolism is not always bad. Given the countries that carry out recognition – francia and the United Kingdom, in particular – it is a important reaffirmation of rights and self -determination of the Palestinians, the right to live free of occupation, the right to state condition, etc.“, .
Of course, Lovatt emphasizes that symbolic gestures must be accompanied by concrete actions. In that sense, the head of foreign policy of the European Union, Kaja Kallashe proposed in Brussels increase tariffs to certain products Israelis and sanction both settlers and two senior Israeli officialsfollowing previous recommendations of the ECFR.
Lovatt also highlights context change: “even three years ago, Recognition could have been the end of history. But I think, since the situation has changed drastically in terms of public and political opinion, It is no more about recognizing [a Palestina] or do something else“.
Even so, he insists that it is the Cumo road: “It should be considered as the trajectory to follow. We may not achieve tomorrow, but the trajectory is clear”.
