WHILE Israel’s angry reaction to the Swedish decision to recognise the Palestinian state is understandable, America’s response, unfortunately, highlights once again the efforts of the strong Israel lobby that influences Washington’s policy on the Middle East. By its “brave and historic” decision, as affirmed by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, Sweden joins hands with 134 UN members who have already recognised the Palestinian people’s right to a sovereign state on their soil.

This right has been officially recognised by America in the form of many international agreements, one of them being the Declaration of Principles which Bill Clinton, Yasser Arafat and Yitzhak Rabin signed on the White House lawn in September 1993.

This was also a right which President Barack Obama affirmed in his historic broadcast to the Arab-Islamic world from Cairo on June 4, 2009. His speech warned Israel against continuing with settlements activity — something which the Likud government continues to ignore with contempt.

The Swedish decision comes in the wake of the British parliament’s resolution on recognising the Palestinian state. Even though the resolution is non-binding, it unmistakably reflects how Europe has begun to see the Arab-Israel issue and the enormous sympathy which the Palestinian people have gained worldwide because of Israel’s periodic Gaza raids, the primary victims of which have been civilians.

While Avigdor Lieberman, Israel’s hawkish foreign minister, criticised the Swedish decision, America called Stockholm’s recognition premature and pleaded for a solution through direct negotiations. No one opposes talks, but Israel has made a mockery of the peace process and gone back on solemn agreements.

The assumption of power by a hard-line government headed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has turned the peace process farcical. Even though previous Israeli governments have committed themselves to a two-state solution, Mr Netanyahu has sabotaged this sensible formula and insists that Israel be recognised as a Jewish state, which will include entire Palestine.

The State Department statement shows how America stands isolated from the world on the question of an independent Palestinian state.

Published in Dawn, November 3rd, 2014