Palestinian statehood still distant after recognition wave

Palestinian statehood remains distant on the ground a year after France, Britain and other Western powers recognised a Palestinian state, with Israel rejecting the move and the Palestinian Authority weakened.

French President Emmanuel Macron led a special UN summit on September 22, 2025, to recognise a Palestinian state. Ten countries, including Britain, Canada and Australia, also recognised Palestinian statehood, bringing the number of UN member states doing so to around 157.

Israel rejects Palestinian statehood and has stepped up efforts to isolate the Palestinian Authority led by Mahmoud Abbas. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said last month that, while he remains prime minister, what he called an Iranian-controlled Palestinian state would not be established in Gaza or the West Bank.

Omar Awadallah, deputy foreign affairs minister of the Palestinian Authority, told AFP that recognition had made a two-state solution politically and diplomatically real, but that implementation still depended on Israeli actions on the ground. Palestinian political analyst Ines Abdel Razek said recognition amounted to little without measures to support a Palestinian state's existence and counter Israeli actions.

The Palestinian Authority has struggled financially, in part because Israel has withheld customs revenue it collects on its behalf. Israel has objected to the authority's long-standing payments to families of imprisoned or slain Palestinians, including those who carried out attacks against Israelis.

The UN says extremist settlers have been responsible for an average of six attacks per day on Palestinians and Palestinian property in the West Bank in 2026. Palestinians also say settler activity and movement restrictions are pushing them into smaller areas. Israel built nearly 1,000 gates at the entrances of West Bank villages and towns in early 2025 and closes them at times to control Palestinian movement.

Ahead of the anniversary, Israel ordered the closure of the UK consulate serving Palestinians from Jerusalem after Britain joined France and Canada in sanctions over rising settler attacks. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said Britain's attempt to force a Palestinian state on Israel was doomed to fail.