The Fateful Decision: British House of Commons Votes on Palestine

Washington Watch

October 10, 2014

Dr. James J. Zogby © 

President

Arab American Institute

On Monday, the British House of Commons will vote on a resolution recognizing the "State of Palestine". Passage of the motion will not create a state nor will it end the Israeli occupation. A "Yes" vote is, nevertheless, important for several reasons.

Though symbolic, passage will provide a much needed boost to the beleaguered Palestinian people. It will send a message that the world is paying attention to their plight and recognizes their rights. Passage will also provide an incentive to those in the Palestinian leadership who have embraced a non-violent, diplomatic strategy to securing their rights.

Since the behavior of the Netanyahu government has effectively shut the door to a just solution to the conflict, Palestinians are despairing of peace. In the face of newly announced settlement expansion and land confiscations; with Gaza still in shambles, following the devastating Israeli assault on that impoverished strip and years of Hamas rule; and with Jerusalem on the brink of an explosion resulting from renewed Israeli provocations—success in the House of Commons will send a message to Palestinians that there is a way forward to independence and freedom.

Following the Swedish government's recent recognition of Palestine, a British affirmation of Palestinian rights can generate momentum hopefully spurring other Western governments to add their voices in support of Palestinian rights. All of this is, as I have said, symbolic, but a wave of symbolic victories can create a new dynamic that will empower Palestinians, while fostering a much needed debate within an increasingly isolated Israel. Not only the Palestinian leadership that supports peace will be strengthened by this vote, the peace forces in Israel will, as well.

As long as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been able to demonstrate his ability to maintain the support of the US Congress and successfully stymie the US President and the international community, he has been in a position to sustain his hard-line government. With no price to pay for his actions, Netanyahu has been able to retain control. What the Israeli left and center have needed is pressure from the outside to force a debate on the damage Netanyahu has done. British recognition of Palestine and new European sanctions against exports from West Bank settlements will send Israelis a strong message that their government's policies are resulting in international isolation requiring a needed reexamination and change.

We should expect that a British vote for recognition will produce an uproar in the US Congress. A predictable group of pro-Israel Members will be tripping over themselves to be the first and loudest voices denouncing the British move. When Congress reconvenes after the November election, there may even those who will propose a host of "silly bills"—although, it will all be "sound and fury, signifying nothing". They can't cut aid to the United Kingdom, as some might say is mandated by legislation which calls for terminating all US assistance to entities that recognize a Palestinian State. This was done, with near devastating results, to UNESCO. In this case, however, they can't cut aid, because there isn't any aid to cut. And they certainly can't sever ties with our most important trans-Atlantic ally, especially now that we are jointly engaged in combat against ISIS.

And so, with no recourse but to bellow, the bizarrely obstructionist Congress may find itself increasingly isolated, especially should other European nations follow suit and also call for recognition of Palestine. This could have the salutary effect of producing a much needed American debate on Palestinian rights.

There is another reason why a British "Yes" vote is important. It was nearly a century ago that the British government issued the infamous Balfour Declaration and signed the Sykes-Picot agreement. With the former they committed to give Palestine to the Zionist movement to establish a Jewish homeland. With the latter they designed to carve up the newly liberated Arab East between themselves and the French.

Balfour was a colonialist, of the first order. When US President Wilson raised concern with the British scheme and commissioned a survey of Arab opinion to determine their aspirations, Balfour responded,

"In Palestine,we do not propose even to go through the form of consulting the wishes of the present inhabItants of the country...Zionism, be it right or wrong, good or bad is...of far profounder import than the desire and prejudices of the 700,000 Arabs who now inhabit that ancient land".

Reflecting on the fateful decisions made a century ago, former British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said in 2002,

"A lot of the problems I have to deal with now, are a consequence of our colonial past. The Balfour declaration and the contradictory assurances which were being given to the Palestinians in private at the same time as they were being given to the Israelis - again, an interesting history for us but not an entirely honourable one".

And so, should the House of Commons do the right thing and pass the motion recognizing Palestine, they will be taking an important step in regaining that lost honor.  They will also be setting in motion a positive dynamic that can create new conditions that can foster peace.

All this can happen. But first, the motion must pass.