Don’t that just make ya smile Myrtle, Leftists attacking Leftists over how Left do you go!

For once I partly agree with Binoy. The moves by France, Canada, the UK and now Australia (not mentioned here – presumably this piece was penned before Albo’s announcement) are unlikely to make any difference on the ground and could well prove counter-productive. It is particularly unedifying seeing the former Middle Eastern colonial powers of the UK and France meddling moralistically in a conflict whose origins they were partly responsible for, and trying to dictate to Palestinians who should govern them and how while at the same time professing to advocate a Palestinian democracy.

It is also rare nowadays to see a commentator from the left acknowledge that Palestine at present is nowhere near meeting the definition of statehood set out in the Montevideo Convention. Declaring that Palestine is a state does not make it one.

But to imply that Israel alone is responsible for the poor prospects of a two-state solution ignores history. On many occasions in the past a two-state solution has seemed tantalisingly close, only to be stymied by the refusal of the Palestinian representatives to recognise the state of Israel. The current Israeli government opposes a two-state solution, but it is unpopular. Israel is a democracy, and it is to be hoped that the government and its policies may change peacefully. A credible pathway to Israel accepting a two-state solution exists. The pathway to a Palestinian state that genuinely recognised Israel is far murkier.

The danger in premature recognition of Palestine is twofold – if Palestine is not and cannot credibly become a real state, it will be a failure from its inception; and if Palestine does not genuinely recognise Israel’s right to exist (and vice versa) then it will not resolve conflict, but potentially lock it in for more generations.

Well nobody means it literally, nobody actually wants to have a "Palestinian state", especially not the people who are supposed to live in such a state - and nobody here is even naive enough to think that others actually want a Palestinian state.

Nobody can resolve the "Israeli-Palestinian conflict" either, because there is no such conflict, or rather, that is a side-show phantom conflict. The only real conflict is internally within Israel, concerning the deep divide as to what that state is all about, even while "Palestinians" (and Israelis) happen to be killed on the side.

Such declarations of "recognition" are merely a statement of taking sides against the Israeli government, and if they manage to give Netanyahu a heart attack then their purpose has been achieved.

Hey Rhian, do you own a home?
I'll give you $100 for it, do we have a deal?
If not then how about you just give me your house for nothing, and go live somewhere else?
Better deal?

Palestinians were never offered a fair deal.
They were offered a crap deal with a gun to their heads.

Dear Critic,

Do you own a home?

Then store these grenades and rockets for me between the nappies and toys in your baby's bedroom - do we have a deal or shall I throw you instead from the top of your roof then store these myself?

As you said - Palestinians were never offered a fair deal.
They were offered a crap deal with a gun to their heads.

This is not to justify the Israeli government's actions - ALL governments are evil and ordinary people are caught in the crossfire between them in wars which are not theirs.