The growing international recognition of the State of Palestine represents an important step in the long and arduous path towards the Palestinian people achieving their legitimate national rights. 142 UN member states have officially recognized the State of Palestine, reflecting a broad international consensus on the justness of the Palestinian cause and the necessity of ending the occupation. This large number of recognitions not only expresses moral solidarity but also provides legal and political legitimacy that supports the Palestinian aspirations to establish their independent, sovereign state on the land occupied since 1967, with East Jerusalem as its capital.

European Union countries such as France, the United Kingdom, and others have also joined this position and declared their recognition of the Palestinian state, affirming their support for the two-state solution as the only path to achieving a just and lasting peace. This global momentum reflects an undeniable reality that Israel cannot deny: the Palestinian people now enjoy solid international recognition of their rights. Ignoring this reality or attempting to circumvent it will only complicate and prolong the conflict.

In contrast, Israel continues to deal with its surroundings and the world with a 'fortress' mentality, one that views every external party as an existential threat and bases its policies on the logic of fear, isolation, and military expansion. This mentality, established since the establishment of the state in 1948, still influences the behavior of its leaders today. They insist on treating the Palestinians as a security problem, not a partner for peace, and continue to bolster the occupation and settlements instead of opening to a just political solution. This approach, which appears to be a protective fortress, carries within it the seeds of collapse, because fortresses, no matter how impregnable they appear, quickly crumble when confronted by historical, political, and demographic realities.

Israel, which for decades has relied on its military superiority and the support of some major powers, today finds itself increasingly isolated on the international stage. The international community, which previously provided Israel with broad political cover, has become increasingly critical of its settlement policies and human rights violations. Perhaps the growing recognition of a Palestinian state is the most prominent expression of the world's growing impatience with the continued occupation and the absence of just solutions.

This collective recognition is more than just a symbolic step; it establishes Palestine as a political entity present in international organizations and global forums, strengthening the Palestinians' ability to pursue Israel legally and diplomatically, thus increasing pressure on it and weakening its ability to impose its unilateral narrative.

It is striking that Israel has not yet realized that its continued policies of denial and expansion will not bring it security but rather exacerbate its internal and external crises. Internally, Israeli society is now experiencing a sharp division between religious, nationalist, and liberal movements, a division that threatens its social fabric. Externally, the continued occupation and the disregard for Palestinian rights place it in open confrontation with the peoples of the region, intensifying criticism and isolation. This mentality, based on entrenching itself behind military force and absolute rejection of the other, may provide a temporary sense of strength, but ultimately, it collides with reality: no state can live surrounded by hostility forever, nor can it continue to deny the rights of an entire people.

The only way to guarantee security and stability for Israel is to abandon its fortress mentality and move toward a just peace based on the recognition of Palestinian rights, foremost among them the establishment of an independent Palestinian state. True peace is not based on military superiority or the construction of walls and fences, but rather on justice, equality, and mutual respect. The recognition of the State of Palestine by 142 countries is a clear message that the world no longer accepts the occupation as a fait accompli, and that Israel's very legitimacy is tied to its willingness to engage in a genuine political process to end the conflict.

Ignoring this message will lead Israel to further isolation and perhaps to the collapse of its project from within, as a state cannot survive while antagonizing its surroundings and refusing to coexist with them. If it chooses the path of peace, it will not only protect its future but will also open the door to a historic shift in the region toward stability, cooperation, and shared development. This requires an immediate end to the war, a withdrawal from Gaza, and full and unimpeded access for humanitarian aid. The current moment offers a rare opportunity for both Israel and the Palestinians: either to be a starting point toward a historic settlement that achieves justice and security, or to remain trapped in a fortress mentality that will inevitably lead to its demise.


Hasan Dajah is professor of Strategic Studies at Al-Hussein Bin Talal University

The growing international recognition of the State of Palestine represents an important step in the long and arduous path towards the Palestinian people achieving their legitimate national rights. 142 UN member states have officially recognized the State of Palestine, reflecting a broad international consensus on the justness of the Palestinian cause and the necessity of ending the occupation. This large number of recognitions not only expresses moral solidarity but also provides legal and political legitimacy that supports the Palestinian aspirations to establish their independent, sovereign state on the land occupied since 1967, with East Jerusalem as its capital.

European Union countries such as France, the United Kingdom, and others have also joined this position and declared their recognition of the Palestinian state, affirming their support for the two-state solution as the only path to achieving a just and lasting peace. This global momentum reflects an undeniable reality that Israel cannot deny: the Palestinian people now enjoy solid international recognition of their rights. Ignoring this reality or attempting to circumvent it will only complicate and prolong the conflict.

In contrast, Israel continues to deal with its surroundings and the world with a 'fortress' mentality, one that views every external party as an existential threat and bases its policies on the logic of fear, isolation, and military expansion. This mentality, established since the establishment of the state in 1948, still influences the behavior of its leaders today. They insist on treating the Palestinians as a security problem, not a partner for peace, and continue to bolster the occupation and settlements instead of opening to a just political solution. This approach, which appears to be a protective fortress, carries within it the seeds of collapse, because fortresses, no matter how impregnable they appear, quickly crumble when confronted by historical, political, and demographic realities.

Israel, which for decades has relied on its military superiority and the support of some major powers, today finds itself increasingly isolated on the international stage. The international community, which previously provided Israel with broad political cover, has become increasingly critical of its settlement policies and human rights violations. Perhaps the growing recognition of a Palestinian state is the most prominent expression of the world's growing impatience with the continued occupation and the absence of just solutions.

This collective recognition is more than just a symbolic step; it establishes Palestine as a political entity present in international organizations and global forums, strengthening the Palestinians' ability to pursue Israel legally and diplomatically, thus increasing pressure on it and weakening its ability to impose its unilateral narrative.

It is striking that Israel has not yet realized that its continued policies of denial and expansion will not bring it security but rather exacerbate its internal and external crises. Internally, Israeli society is now experiencing a sharp division between religious, nationalist, and liberal movements, a division that threatens its social fabric. Externally, the continued occupation and the disregard for Palestinian rights place it in open confrontation with the peoples of the region, intensifying criticism and isolation. This mentality, based on entrenching itself behind military force and absolute rejection of the other, may provide a temporary sense of strength, but ultimately, it collides with reality: no state can live surrounded by hostility forever, nor can it continue to deny the rights of an entire people.

The only way to guarantee security and stability for Israel is to abandon its fortress mentality and move toward a just peace based on the recognition of Palestinian rights, foremost among them the establishment of an independent Palestinian state. True peace is not based on military superiority or the construction of walls and fences, but rather on justice, equality, and mutual respect. The recognition of the State of Palestine by 142 countries is a clear message that the world no longer accepts the occupation as a fait accompli, and that Israel's very legitimacy is tied to its willingness to engage in a genuine political process to end the conflict.

Ignoring this message will lead Israel to further isolation and perhaps to the collapse of its project from within, as a state cannot survive while antagonizing its surroundings and refusing to coexist with them. If it chooses the path of peace, it will not only protect its future but will also open the door to a historic shift in the region toward stability, cooperation, and shared development. This requires an immediate end to the war, a withdrawal from Gaza, and full and unimpeded access for humanitarian aid. The current moment offers a rare opportunity for both Israel and the Palestinians: either to be a starting point toward a historic settlement that achieves justice and security, or to remain trapped in a fortress mentality that will inevitably lead to its demise.


Hasan Dajah is professor of Strategic Studies at Al-Hussein Bin Talal University