Joy to worry: Palestinians react to the recognition of their statehood
Hebron, occupied West Bank – When the headlines started dropping that Canada, then the United Kingdom, then Australia, then Portugal, then France had formally recognised Palestinian statehood, Palestinian reactions ranged from joy to dread that Israel would take this as a cue to target them more violently.
More than 150 countries now recognise the State of Palestine.
Europe News Now spoke to three Palestinians in and around Hebron in the occupied West Bank to ask them how they view the recent developments.
Adel Shadid, Dura
Adel Shadid, 59, is a researcher specialising in Israel and Zionism who spoke to Europe News Now in the hills overlooking Dura, which lies just southwest of Hebron.
He spoke of what he called the “partial historical correction” of Britain recognising the Palestinian state after it issued the Balfour Declaration a century ago and laid the foundation for the Nakba, or “catastrophe”, the mass Palestinian displacement during the establishment of Israel.
He also believes that the recognitions undermine the Israeli narrative that denied the existence of a Palestinian people and increase Israel’s political, economic and moral isolation as countries speak out against Israel’s genocidal war in Gaza and land seizures.
“This shift in the positions of a number of countries, … now more than 10, including major European countries with permanent seats on the [United Nations] Security Council, such as France and Britain, represents a shock to Israel, because these are the same countries that contributed to the establishment of the Zionist project from its inception. That this recognition comes despite the Israeli position is a direct challenge to it.”
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