On 21/9, Canada became the first G7 member to recognize the State of Palestine, pledging support for "a peaceful future for both Palestinians and Israelis." The United Kingdom, Australia, and Portugal quickly followed suit.

This move marks a significant turning point in international diplomacy, as it's the first time major Western powers have recognized the State of Palestine. European Union (EU) member states such as Belgium, France, Malta, and Luxembourg also announced their intention to recognize the State of Palestine in September.

"Palestine will be in a much better position in any future negotiations. Nation-to-nation negotiations are completely different from negotiations between a state and an unrecognized entity or an organization," Nomi Bar-Yaacov, a peace negotiator at the Geneva Center for Security Policy, told DW.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas speaks in Paris, France, in October 2022. Photo: AFP

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas speaks in Paris, France, in October 2022. Photo: AFP

According to the 1933 Montevideo Convention, to be recognized as a sovereign state, an entity must meet the criteria of "a permanent population, a defined territory, a government, and the capacity to enter into relations with other states." Recognition of state sovereignty can occur even when one element, such as territorial boundaries, is disputed.

International law experts believe that the State of Palestine has met the basic criteria for statehood. Palestine has a permanent population of over 5 million. Its territory, although disputed, is widely recognized as the West Bank and Gaza Strip, along with East Jerusalem.

President Mahmoud Abbas's Palestinian Authority governs part of the West Bank and represents Palestinians in diplomatic relations with many countries worldwide. The State of Palestine has been recognized by 151 of the 193 United Nations members.

"After recognizing the State of Palestine, countries will have to re-examine their entire bilateral relationship with Israel," said Ardi Imseis, associate professor at Queen's University's Faculty of Law, Canada. Recognizing states must evaluate their political, economic, cultural, social, and civil agreements with Israel to ensure they don't violate their obligations to the State of Palestine.

Lawyer Paul Reichler, who has represented Palestine at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), gave an example: if a country that recognizes Palestine continues to import agricultural products from Israeli settlements in the occupied territories, that act could be considered aiding and abetting violations of international law.

In a landmark ruling last year, the ICJ concluded that Israel's occupation of Palestinian territories violated the prohibition against acquiring territory by force.

Of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council, Russia, China, and the UK have recognized the State of Palestine. If France follows suit, the US, an ally of Israel, would be the sole dissenting permanent member of the Security Council.

"Palestine is currently a 'non-member observer state' at the UN," Palestinian political scientist Rida Abu Rass told Al Jazeera. "To become a full member, Palestine needs to be recommended by the Security Council and voted on by the UN General Assembly. This is unlikely to happen because the US has veto power."

Israel was established in 1948, a year after the UN partitioned British Mandate Palestine into separate Arab and Jewish areas, with the aim of establishing two separate states. Conflicts in the following decades hampered efforts to establish a Palestinian state.

In the 1993 US-brokered Oslo Accords, Israel and the Palestinian Authority agreed that the Authority would govern the West Bank and Gaza Strip. However, Jewish settlements have expanded in the occupied West Bank, while the Israeli government has repeatedly disavowed Palestinian statehood, making a two-state solution increasingly elusive.

Palestinian Foreign Minister Varsen Aghabekian Shahin on 21/9 described the recognition by several countries as an "irreversible step," safeguarding the two-state solution and bringing Palestine closer to independence and sovereignty. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, however, declared that Western recognition of a Palestinian state would "threaten Israel's existence."

Borders of Israel, Gaza, and the West Bank after the 1967 war. Graphic: BBC

Borders of Israel, Gaza, and the West Bank after the 1967 war. Graphic: BBC

Most analysts believe that recognizing the State of Palestine is largely symbolic and unlikely to create immediate change on the ground.

"Without concrete actions, such as sanctions or an arms embargo against Israel, I remain pessimistic," independent researcher Chris Osieck told Al Jazeera.

Some experts remain optimistic. According to Hugh Lovatt, a Middle East and North Africa researcher at the European Council on Foreign Relations, the vocal support of countries like the UK "is an important affirmation of Palestinian rights, such as the right to self-determination, freedom from occupation, the right to build a state, and many others."

"Recognition should be seen as a gradual process. We may not achieve our goals tomorrow, but the path forward is clearly defined," Lovatt said.

Nhu Tam (According to Reuters, DW, Al Jazeera)