US Dismisses Allies’ Recognition of Palestine as ‘Performative’

News Desk

Washington: The United States has described the decision by several allies—including the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and Portugal—to formally recognize a Palestinian state as “performative,” emphasizing its commitment instead to diplomacy centered on Israel’s security and regional stability.

“Our focus remains on serious diplomacy, not performative gestures. Our priorities are clear: the release of the hostages, the security of Israel, and peace and prosperity for the entire region,” a State Department spokesperson said Sunday on condition of anonymity, while attributing the ongoing conflict to Hamas.

The coordinated recognition marked a significant policy shift earlier in the day, with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer saying, “In the face of the growing horror in the Middle East, we are acting to keep alive the possibility of peace and the two-state solution.”

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney underscored the move as an opportunity to build “a promise of a peaceful future for both the State of Palestine and the State of Israel.”

More European states—including France, Belgium, Luxembourg, Malta, Andorra, and San Marino—are expected to announce recognition during the upcoming UN General Assembly, further isolating Israel and, by extension, the United States.

Israel’s Response

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, currently in the United States to meet President Donald Trump, rejected the possibility of Palestinian statehood.

“And I have another message for you: It will not happen. A Palestinian state will not be established west of the Jordan River,” he said in a statement.

Far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir went further, urging the government to annex the occupied West Bank and dismantle the Palestinian Authority. Writing on X, he pledged to present an annexation proposal at the upcoming Cabinet meeting.

Currently, about three-quarters of UN member states recognize Palestine, with Ireland, Spain, and Norway joining the list last year.