‘Now or never’: Belgium deputy PM urges recognition of Palestine
Petra De Sutter says her country must “resolutely opt for international law by recognising the Palestinian State”.
“It is now or never. Our proposal on the recognition of Palestine is before the House today. The lack of action is culpable neglect,” she posted on X.
‘Missing in action’: Where has Palestinian Authority been since October 7?
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas was in his element at the UN General Assembly last month, thanking 124 countries for voting yes on the first-ever resolution introduced by Palestine at the assembly.
Abbas also condemned Israel’s yearlong war on Gaza, ongoing incursions and settlement expansion in the occupied West Bank.
But for many Palestinians, who are reeling from the deadliest year in a long history of violence, Abbas’s words at the UN felt tired and irrelevant.
Yara Hawari, co-director of the Palestinian think tank Al-Shabaka, told Al Jazeera that while the PA “paid lip service” to the tragedy Palestinians were facing, it also continued its role as a “subcontractor” for the Israeli occupation by suppressing protests and resistance in the West Bank.
“Really since the beginning of the genocide in Gaza, the Palestinian Authority has been absent from the scene, making a few comments here or there, or statements that really do nothing,” Hawari said.
“But there have been no concrete actions to support Palestinians in Gaza,” she said.
The PA is a puppet government for Israel, no wonder Palestinians rally behind Hamas.
