RAMALLAH, September 21, 2025 (WAFA) – In what observers describe as the most substantial diplomatic shift in years, Britain, Canada, and Australia officially recognized the State of Palestine on Sunday, joining 149 countries worldwide that have already taken this step.
The move marks a significant expansion of international support for Palestinian statehood and comes amid ongoing Israeli aggression on Gaza and mounting global pressure on Israel over its policies in the occupied Palestinian territories.
The Palestinian leadership welcomed the recognition as a natural outcome of decades of resilience and sustained diplomatic efforts, while in Israel, the announcements triggered a political storm spanning government, opposition, and settler circles.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reacted with fury, describing the recognition as “a massive prize for terrorism,” and vowing: “This will not happen. A Palestinian state will never be established west of the Jordan River.”
His comments set the tone for a wave of denunciations across the Israeli political spectrum, particularly among far-right members of his coalition. National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, leader of the extremist Jewish Power party, labeled the move “a prize for the murderers of women and children” and called for Israel to respond immediately by annexing the West Bank and dismantling the Palestinian Authority. He promised to push such proposals at the next cabinet meeting.
Ultranationalist Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich of the Religious Zionism party struck a similar chord, declaring: “The days when Britain and other countries decided our future are over. The only response to this hostile act is full sovereignty over the West Bank and the permanent removal of the Palestinian state idea from the agenda.” He directly challenged Netanyahu to act swiftly: “This is your responsibility, Mr. Prime Minister, and the time is now.”
Other cabinet members echoed the defiance. Culture Minister Miki Zohar (Likud) joined the call for annexation, while Education Minister Yoav Kisch said: “Israel will not allow the establishment of a Palestinian state whose aim is the destruction of the Jewish state. This is precisely the moment to impose sovereignty in the West Bank.”
Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana (Likud) lashed out at UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer personally, calling him “a newly appeased leader who chose disgrace.”
Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar also rejected the recognitions as “wrong, provocative, and immoral,” accusing both the Palestinian Authority and Hamas of encouraging terrorism and asserting: “The future of the Land of Israel will not be determined in London or Paris, but here in Jerusalem.
Criticism was not limited to the ruling coalition. Former army chief and National Unity politician Gadi Eisenkot said recognizing Palestine now was “folly and a prize for terrorism,” arguing that it reflected “a massive political failure by the Netanyahu government.”
Former Defense Minister Benny Gantz (Blue and White) echoed this, warning that the move “strengthens Hamas and prolongs the war.”
Opposition leader Yair Lapid (Yesh Atid) described the recognitions as “a political disaster and a dangerous step.” He blamed the government for mishandling diplomacy, saying: “A responsible Israeli government could have prevented this through professional diplomatic work and sound political management. Instead, this government, which brought us the worst security disaster in Israel’s history, is now bringing us the worst political crisis.”
Former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett told Sky News that “Starmer will not impose conditions on us.”
From the Israeli left, Yair Golan, head of the Democratic Party, criticized Netanyahu and Smotrich for “a dangerous political failure” but also called the recognitions “a destructive step” for Israel. He argued that they were “the direct result of occupation, expansion, and refusal to end the war,” and urged a political course that ends the conflict, frees Israeli hostages, and secures Israel through a regional agreement involving a demilitarized Palestinian state.
The political uproar was mirrored by settler mobilization on the ground. Israeli media reported that Defense Minister Israel Katz met with leaders of the settler council at the Ibrahimi Mosque in Hebron on the eve of the recognitions, during Jewish New Year celebrations.
At the meeting, settler leaders demanded full annexation of the West Bank. Katz voiced support, reminding the audience that he was the first to propose a sovereignty law in the Knesset. “I believe this must be implemented properly with the Prime Minister,” he said, adding: “We are united, we are sending a clear security message, and we will act according to a clear policy.” He also celebrated the recent recognition of 22 new settlements by the government as part of what he called “a step toward sovereignty.”
The coordinated responses from Israeli leaders across government and opposition reveal a rare point of consensus: the growing international recognition of Palestine is to be countered not with concessions but with expanded settlement activity and potential annexation of the West Bank.
At the same time, the move by three influential Western countries—Britain, Canada, and Australia—signals a major diplomatic shift, raising pressure on Israel at a moment of deep political crisis and a neverending war on Gaza.
M.N
