Recognizing “Palestine”: Rationale, Expectations, Implications

Under French and Saudi chairmanship, an international conference on the sidelines of this month’s UN General Assembly meetings will rally numerous countries to join the long list of those that have already recognized the state of Palestine, a position opposed by the United States and Israel. Precisely how such decisions will address the most urgent item on the Arab-Israel agenda—finding a solution that ends the war in Gaza, returns Israel’s hostages, and alleviates the humanitarian suffering of civilians there—is unclear.

To discuss the reasons for the current statehood push and its implications for regional diplomacy, the Hamas-Israel war, and the practical situation of Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza, The Washington Institute is pleased to announce a virtual Policy Forum with Tal Becker, Samer Sinijlawi, and Isabelle Lasserre.

Tal Becker served for many years as the legal advisor to Israel’s Foreign Ministry. He is currently a vice president at the Shalom Hartman Institute in Jerusalem.

Samer Sinijlawi is president of the Jerusalem Development Fund and a longtime activist in the Fatah movement.

Isabelle Lasserre is the diplomatic correspondent of the French daily newspaper Le Figaro.

The Policy Forum series is made possible through the generosity of the Florence and Robert Kaufman Family.