INTERNATIONAL momentum behind Palestinian statehood is growing.

France’s announcement that it will formally recognise the State of Palestine at the UN General Assembly in September marks a historic shift. It challenges the long-standing diplomatic inertia of Western powers, and sets a precedent that other influential nations can no longer ignore.

As the first G7 nation to make such a commitment, France has signalled that the two-state solution is no longer just a talking point. Pakistan, too, has reiterated its long-standing position — that peace in the Middle East is not possible without the recognition of an independent, viable Palestinian state, existing side by side with Israel........

© Dawn