The wave of international recognition of a Palestinian state has sparked outrage and almost unanimous condemnation across the political spectrum in Israel, uniting political opponents and, analysts say, potentially strengthening the ruling coalition's position.
Britain, Portugal, Australia and Canada officially recognized the Palestinian state on Sunday, a day ahead of a summit in New York where they were joined by other countries including France, which convened the summit together with Saudi Arabia.
Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, called the moves "absurd" and "a reward for terrorism," while the Israeli president said they would embolden "the forces of darkness." "A Palestinian state will not be established west of the Jordan River," Netanyahu said.
Opposition leaders used similar language. Yair Lapid, head of the centrist Yesh Atid party, called it a "diplomatic disaster, a bad move and a reward for terror."
Although the summit in New York could boost Palestinian morale, it is not expected to bring about changes on the ground, as experts say it is unlikely that the Israeli government will change course due to these recognitions.
“This will not have one millimeter of impact on policymaking,” said Yaakov Amidror, a former national security adviser to Netanyahu and an analyst at the conservative Jerusalem Institute for Strategic Studies.
What is the status of Palestinian statehood now?
The Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) declared an independent Palestinian state in 1988, and most of the global South quickly recognized it. Today, it is recognized by about 150 of the 193 members of the United Nations.
Israel's main ally, the United States, has long said it supports the goal of Palestinian statehood, but only after the Palestinians and Israel reach a negotiated agreement on a two-state solution. Until recently, major European powers also shared this view.
However, no Israeli-Palestinian negotiations have taken place since 2014, and Netanyahu now openly claims that a Palestinian state will never exist.
The delegation representing the State of Palestine has observer status at the United Nations - but without voting rights. Regardless of the number of states that recognize Palestinian independence, full UN membership would require approval by the Security Council, where Washington has veto power.
Palestinian diplomatic missions around the world are controlled by the Palestinian Authority (PA), which is internationally recognized as the representative of the Palestinian people.
The PA, headed by President Mahmoud Abbas, has limited self-rule in parts of the Israeli-occupied West Bank under an agreement with Israel. It issues Palestinian passports and runs the health and education systems.
The Gaza Strip has been controlled by the militant group Hamas since 2007, which expelled Abbas's Fatah movement after a brief civil war.
Will countries open new embassies?
Palestinian diplomatic missions in countries that recognize a Palestinian state are expected to be elevated to full embassy status. However, countries are not expected to be able to open new, fully-fledged embassies in the Palestinian territories, where Israel controls access.
About 40 countries have consulates or representative offices either in Ramallah, the seat of the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank, or in parts of Jerusalem that Israel captured in 1967 and that the Palestinians want as their capital.
Israel considers all of Jerusalem its undivided capital. Embassies in Israel are mostly located in Tel Aviv, although the United States moved its embassy to Jerusalem during President Donald Trump's first term.
What is the goal of recognizing a Palestinian state?
Countries that choose to recognize a Palestinian state say the move is aimed at pressuring Israel to end its devastating assault on Gaza, halt the construction of new Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank, and recommit to the peace process with the Palestinians.
French President Emmanuel Macron, the first leader of a major Western power to support recognition, said the move would be accompanied by a commitment by the Palestinian Authority to implement reforms, which would improve Palestinian governance and strengthen its credibility as a partner in the post-war administration of Gaza.
What does recognition mean in practice?
Those who see the recognition as a mere gesture point to the limited influence of countries like China, India, Russia and many Arab states that recognized Palestinian independence decades ago.
Without a full seat in the UN or control over its own borders, the Palestinian Authority has only limited ability to conduct bilateral relations. Israel restricts access to goods, investment, educational and cultural exchanges. The Palestinians have no airports. The landlocked West Bank can only be reached through Israel or across the Israeli-administered border with Jordan, while Israel now controls all access to the Gaza Strip after seizing Gaza's border with Egypt during the current war.
However, the countries planning recognition, as well as the Palestinian Authority itself, claim that it will not be an empty gesture.
Husam Zomlot, head of the Palestinian mission in the UK, said recognition could lead to partnerships between entities on an equal basis.
It could also force some countries to reconsider certain aspects of their relations with Israel, said Vincent Finn, a former British diplomat in Jerusalem.
Palestinians in Gaza, fleeing Israeli attacks on Gaza, see little comfort in statehood recognition. “Even if countries like Australia, Canada and France - which are now among those pushing for this recognition - recognize Palestine, I believe there will still be no serious pressure on Israel to grant the Palestinians their rights,” displaced Palestinian Nabil Jaber said on Sunday.
In Tel Aviv, Israelis noted that Palestinians have rejected many opportunities to establish their own state in the past.
“We offered them peace about five times. They could have agreed to any of those offers, but they never, ever chose peace. So why should we have to choose peace with people who want to kidnap, kill, rape our people? I don’t think we should do that,” said Tamara Raveh, a 25-year-old student.
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