After France and the United Kingdom, Canada announced, on Wednesday, July 30, its intention to recognize the Palestine State in September. “From a point of view of pure international law, recognition has only declarative value”explained in June 2024, Insaf Rezagui, doctor of public international law, associate researcher of the Thucydide Center (University of Paris Panthéon-Assas) and at the French Institute for the Middle East in Jerusalem, on France Culture.
“In international law, it is the Montevideo Convention of 1933 which, in its first article, defines what is understood by a State. specifies the academic. Four criteria are needed: a government, (…) a territory, (…) a populationtherefore the Palestinian people in this case, which was recognized by all, including by Israel as part of the Oslo agreements. And finally a fourth criterion, which is the Ability to get into relationships With international society, states and international organizations. »»
From a purely legal point of view, “It shouldn’t change much, because Palestine is already recognized as an observer member by the UN and is part of international organizations ”Pointe Frédérique Schillo, historian and co-author of Under your stones, Jerusalemin an article in Franceinfo.
Admittedly, Palestine could hope to become a full member of the United Nations, which would allow it to vote for resolution projects. This is for this necessary that the UN Security Council will make a proposal in this direction, then that the General Assembly votes for. “It would be difficult for France to oppose it after having recognized Palestine as a state”advance the historian.
This recognition can however be important for the Palestinian people, who can see a form of support, even if this recognition is above all “A highly symbolic gesture”supports Frédérique Schillo, all the more coming from France, judges the historian.
Indeed, on the ground, the existence of a sovereign Palestinian State seems more than ever to move away: Gaza has been the subject of a total blockade since March, and, in the West Bank, the checkpoints held by the Israeli army are multiplying. In May, the Israeli government announced the creation of 22 new illegal colonies in the West Bank.
