Palestinian state? 'Could not have been a worse time'

Joe Biden holds a Cabinet meeting, Monday, Oct. 2, 2023, in the Cabinet Room of the White House. Secretary of State Antony Blinken attends. (Official White House photo by Adam Schultz)

The American Center for Law and Justice, a key legal team that repeatedly has argued for justice for Israel, is warning Secretary of State Anthony Blinken "there could not have been a worse time" to discuss Palestinian statehood.

Blinken, in fact, recently asked the State Department "to conduct a review and present policy options on possible U.S. and international recognition of a Palestinian state."

The concept comes just months after terrorists in the Palestinian organization of Hamas, based in Gaza, launched a war on Israel, killing some 1,200 civilians in attacks that exposed the depravity of the attackers because they burned whole families alive and beheaded babies.

Blinken's suggestion followed shortly after a similar comment from David Cameron, the secretary of state for foreign affairs in the United Kingdom.

Get the hottest, most important news stories on the Internet – delivered FREE to your inbox as soon as they break! Take just 30 seconds and sign up for WND's Email News Alerts!

The ACLJ reported, "We have sent both Secretary Blinken and Secretary Cameron letters not only raising our serious concerns but also providing information about both the U.S.’s and the U.K.’s previous policy as well as the law on this matter."

The organization documented, "For over 70 years since the creation of the modern State of Israel in 1948, U.S. and U.K. policy regarding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict has been the same—a two-state solution based on good faith negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians."

The report explained administrations, both liberal and conservative, in both nations "have rejected the idea of recognizing Palestinian statehood without the settlement of issues related to security and borders, among others, through peaceful negotiations between the parties."

Should Palestinians ever be granted their own state?

The letter warned on the danger of "bypassing" negotiations involving Israel.

The organization explained, "In fact, our letter to Secretary Blinken pointed out that, not long ago, Secretary Blinken stated, 'The Palestinians do not qualify as a sovereign state and therefore, are not qualified to obtain membership as a state in, participate as a state in, or delegate jurisdiction to the ICC.'"

That followed an earlier statement from a U.K. official who documented, "How can you recognize a state when the borders have not been agreed? This is profoundly unhelpful to the peace process."

The ACLJ said it further warned that the only path to a peaceful resolution of the conflict between Israel and the Palestinian aggressors is through "direct peaceful negotiations."

"This process has been recognized not only by many United Nations resolutions, both by the Security Council and the General Assembly, but also by the United States and the United Kingdom," the ACLJ said.

Further, the letter said giving Palestinians statehood now would, in effect, be rewarding those terrorists who massacred and butchered Israel families on Oct. 7, 2023.

And, the ACLJ noted, the atrocities committed by Hamas terrorists show they are unable to turn from violence against defenseless civilians.

At this point the organization said, "Palestinians are not ready for statehood, much less U.N. membership."

For 25 years, WND has boldly brought you the news that really matters. If you appreciate our Christian journalists and their uniquely truthful reporting and analysis, please help us by becoming a WND Insider!

Content created by the WND News Center is available for re-publication without charge to any eligible news publisher that can provide a large audience. For licensing opportunities of our original content, please contact [email protected].

SUPPORT TRUTHFUL JOURNALISM. MAKE A DONATION TO THE NONPROFIT WND NEWS CENTER. THANK YOU!