The German government contemplates deeming Palestine's acknowledgement as premature.
The German govt remains dedicated to a two-state solution yet refuses recognition of a Palestinian state at present. SPD lawmaker Michael Roth considers Ireland, Norway, and Spain's actions misguided. The CDU/CSU echoes similar remarks.
While Norway, Ireland, and Spain approve of Palestine as a state, the German govt holds firm on rejecting it. Steffen Hebestreit, govt spokesperson in Berlin, reiterates their aim toward a negotiated two-state solution concluding in acceptance of a separate Palestinian entity. However, such a solution is still a distant dream.
A peacefully coexisting Israel and Palestine represents the sole resolution to this enduring conflict, highlighted by Hebestreit. He emphasizes the need for skilled negotiations and potentially extended time. In relation to Palestine's recognition by other Euro nations, Hebestreit advocates that "no shortcut exists." Conflict dissipation won't occur instantly "through a diplomatic action or decision."
Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre, Irish PM Simon Harris, and Spanish PM Pedro Sánchez recently announced their intentions to acknowledge Palestine as a nation on May 28.
Roth: "Misguided signal at an inopportune moment"
Michael Roth, Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee, reprimanded the trio's recognition of Palestine as a mistake. "The unilateral recognition of Palestine as a sovereign state is a misguided signal at an inopportune moment," he told the German media, Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland. "I'm worried it won't bring us closer to the vital two-state solution we need."
No functional statehood exists within the Palestinian territories. Moreover, the Palestinian Authority refuses acknowledging Israel's statehood. Roth feels that worldwide support of Palestinians, following Hamas' brutal actions on October 7, only fuels misconceptions. He stressed, "The false notion that the horrific terror of Hamas on October 7 fostered a positive outlook for the Palestinians, while the opposite is the reality."
It is unfortunate that the EU also lacks collective agreement on this issue. Roth expresses frustration, stating, "Once more, the EU's divided stance on a critical foreign and security policy problem is a severe hindrance. We should have the USA, moderate Arab states, Israel, and Palestine onboard equally. Mutual recognition should culminate in calm negotiations paving the way for a perpetual peace in the Middle East with individual Israeli and Palestinian states." This would necessitate "careful assessment and consensus."
Hardt: "Recognition is of scant value"
Roleplayer Jürgen Hardt, CDU/CSU's foreign affairs spokesperson in the German Parliament, cautioned the German govt against recognizing Palestine as an independent state. "The previous German formula should persist: Recognition of a Palestinian state only during successful peace negotiations," he told the "Rheinische Post."
Governments orchestrate their own diplomatic dealings, yet Hebestreit highlights the ineffectiveness of such unilateral actions without a negotiated solution. Instead, concrete engagement with conflict participants and tangible steps toward a realizable two-state solution would lead to more significant results for the General Population. For Hardt, "Symbolic acts are less significant than genuine efforts to generate a viable two-state solution."
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- Despite the SPD's criticism, Steffen Hebestreit, the Federal Government's spokesperson, maintains that Germany is committed to a negotiated two-state solution in the Middle East conflict, which includes the recognition of a separate Palestinian entity as part of this solution, within the Union parliamentary group's framework.
- Steffen Hebestreit, in contrast to Norway, Ireland, and Spain's recognition of Palestine as a state, emphasizes that there's no shortcut to peace in the Middle East, stating that no solution will emerge through a diplomatic action or decision, implying that Germany supports a more measured and balanced approach to the conflict.
- Amidst the ongoing Middle East conflict and discussions surrounding Palestine's recognition, Steffen Hebestreit, spokesperson for the German Federal Government, underlines the importance of skilled negotiations for the emergence of a peaceful coexistence between Israel and Palestine, pointing to the need for extended time and committed diplomatic engagement to achieve this goal.
Source: www.ntv.de
