Q&A of the Day – The Israel-Hamas War - Is “Palestine” a Legitimate State?
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Today’s Entry: Brian, I can’t help but to notice the inherent bias's in the reporting of the Hamas terror attacks. One would think it wouldn’t be too much to ask for reporters to use accurate characterizations. Regularly reports refer to the Hamas terrorists as “militants”, and worse, refer to “Palestine” as though it’s a legitimate state. Please address this.
Bottom Line: With a death toll of 900 and still rising, the largest terror attack on Israel in the country’s history by the Iranian sponsored Hamas terrorist organization, has also claimed the lives at least 11 Americans. That’s a good place to begin the conversation about the legitimacy, or lack thereof, of “Palestine” as a recognized state. According to the United States Department of Justice, Hamas’ official designation is that of a foreign terrorist organization. The group that was born out of the Muslim Brotherhood in 1987, has held that official designation since 1997 following a series of terror attacks conducted on Israel. Since 2006, Hamas has been the governing body of Palestinians. To the point of today’s note. “Palestine” is no more an official state than Hamas is a legitimate government. You’re correct to call into question any American journalists granting the territory legitimacy as a state or Hamas legitimacy as a government.
In 1948, under terms agreed to under the United Nations General Assembly, the lands that comprise modern day Israel and the current Palestinian territories were designated to create an Arab territory and a Jewish state. On May 15th of 1948, Israel was officially recognized by the United Nations as a state. The Palestinian territories were governed by two nearby Arab governments – Egypt and Jordan. That continued until June of 1967 when Israel’s influence expanded in the region including holding influence over what then became known as the occupied Palestinian territories. The Israeli occupation in disputed Palestinian territories continued until 1993 when the Israeli military withdrew from much of the territory and recognized the Palestine Liberation Organization, or PLO through the Oslo Accord. At that point, the goal by many world leaders, including Israel’s government at the time, became a stated two-state solution. However, almost immediately, PLO leader Yasser Arafat supported terror operations against Israeli’s. As a result, Palestine was not officially recognized as a state by the United Nations and the region continued to be viewed through the prism of territories by the west. Fast forward to November of 2012. The United Nations passed a resolution recognizing “Palestine” as “a non-member observer state”. What this means is that Palestine is not viewed as an official state by the UN body, however it is a quasi-legitimacy which recognized its status as a “state” legally by members of the UN body. That takes us to where we stand today.
A total of 138 of the 193 United Nations members recognize “Palestine” as an official state. Among those that don’t include nine of the G20 countries: Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Mexico, the United Kingdom and yes, the United States, don’t recognize “Palestine” as a legitimate state. Therefore, it’s inappropriate for any American journalist, to refer to “Palestine” in the context of a state, or Hamas as a legitimate governing authority. While many reporters may do so out of sheer ignorance, it’s also possible there are those which are effectively taking an activist position against Israel and the United States by doing so. Deciphering which of those considerations it is when you hear it can be challenging. Either way, however, it’s wrong if it’s presented that way in this country. And that also provides additional context for the “pro-Palestine” demonstrations held across the country, including the two that happened in Florida on Sunday. The demonstrations, which took place in Fort Lauderdale and Tampa, were very intentionally entitled: “Victory to Palestine”. The demonstrations which were condemned by Governor DeSantis as “abhorrent”, were effectively pro-terrorist demonstrations. And one might imagine that the coverage locally and nationally of these events commonly occurring in the context of “Palestine” being a state, serves their purpose. Ignorance and activism are nothing new in the context of news reporting, however it’s especially offensive when it’s supporting a terror network bent on eradicating all non-Muslims who’re actively murdering, raping and kidnapping masses of people in Israel. So no, if you’re an American, or simply someone who doesn’t support Islamic terror, there is no Palestinian state – just those who report on it as though it is.