Palestine cannot be considered a ‘de facto state’

THERE is no such thing as a Palestinian state. Palestinian statehood has been disputed for decades. ‘Palestine’ was given ‘observer status’ in the United Nations (UN) General Assembly in 2012.

The state of Israel was declared in May 1948, and admitted to the UN as a full member. Israel is a parliamentary democracy in a multi-party system with strong, independent institutions. It is in no way an ‘apartheid’ state.

‘Palestine’, an authoritarian regime, has, as an ‘observer state’ been granted limited powers. Although some of the UN members (140 out of 193) have recognised Palestinian statehood, it cannot be considered a de facto state. According to the 1933 Montevideo Convention, statehood implies a territory with a permanent population, a specifically defined territory, its own government and the capacity to enter relations with other countries. A second theory Constitutive theory - states that a state can only be considered a state if the rest of the world considers it as such.

However, a state’s bid to join the UN must be approved by at least 9 of the 15 members of the Security Council. If any of the five permanent members (China, France, Russia, the UK and US) veto the bid, the said country cannot join.

The US has vetoed the resolution for Palestine’s membership. Three nations – US, France and the UK – have stated that they will not recognise Palestinian statehood until the Israel-Hamas war is peacefully resolved.

Israel claims that such a state would be a ‘terrorist state’ functioning within the UN. Enough said.

JOHN R WHITLOCK | Germiston