As more nations move to formally recognize Palestine as a state, the refusal by the United States, Israel and Japan to follow suit is becoming increasingly untenable. Recognition may not solve the conflict overnight, but continued delay sends a clear message: Palestinian statehood is not a right, but a privilege to be granted only when geopolitics allow.
More than 140 countries now recognize the state of Palestine, including recent additions like Norway, Ireland and Spain. The United Nations General Assembly upgraded Palestine’s status to “non-member observer state” in 2021. Still, three of the world’s most influential democracies – Israel, the United States and Japan – refuse to recognize it as a state.
Each of these countries has its own reasons, but they share the common thread of resistance to unilateral recognition outside of a negotiated peace agreement.
Israel remains the most vocal opponent of Palestinian statehood. In September, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told his cabinet that “a Palestinian state will not arise,” and reaffirmed that Israel rejects all international moves to recognize one.
According to The New York Times, the Israeli government has long argued that such recognition “rewards terrorism” and undermines future peace talks. In February, Israel’s cabinet passed a resolution declaring that recognition “would be a massive and unprecedented reward to terrorism.” The statement came just months after the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attack, which killed more than 1,200 people in Israel.
But recognizing Palestine does not equal recognition of Hamas. The Palestinian Authority, not Hamas, has been the internationally recognized representative body of Palestinians for decades. Conflating the two serves a political purpose: to block recognition and maintain the status quo.
The U.S. has long said it supports a two-state solution. But it continues to oppose recognizing Palestine outside of direct negotiations with Israel.
According to a U.S. Secretary of State report, “There can be no Palestinian state unless Israel agrees to it,” Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in August. Vice President J.D. Vance echoed that, saying the U.S had “no plans” to recognize Palestine and citing the lack of unified Palestinian government.
Yet in Congress, some lawmakers are pushing for a different approach. In September, Sen. Jeff Merkley introduced a resolution urging the U.S. to recognize a demilitarized Palestinian state alongside a secure Israel. “It’s the right thing to do,” Merkley said.
Japan’s position is more subtle, but no less consequential. In September, Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya said Japan had no plans to recognize Palestine during the U.N. General Assembly, though the country continues to support a two-state solution.
According to The New York Times, Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba later said that recognition is a matter of “when, not if.” Japan appears to be waiting for broader international alignment, and, like many U.S. allies, is reluctant to move ahead without American support.
Behind the scenes, Japanese officials admit their position closely follows Washington’s lead. According to Reuters, citing The Asahi Shimbun, Tokyo does not want to strain relations with Israel or undermine its diplomatic role in the Middle East.
Critics of unilateral recognition say it’s symbolic and does little to change facts on the ground. That’s partly true. Israeli settlement expansion, military control and lack of Palestinian sovereignty remain enormous obstacles. But symbolic acts matter especially when they challenge a decades-long imbalance.
Recognition isn’t a reward for good behavior. It’s an acknowledgement of a people’s right to exist within defined borders, with the same legal and diplomatic status afforded to others. Denying that right reinforces the idea that Palestinian freedom is conditional.
That idea is the heart of the problem.
Peace cannot come from endless negotiations in which one party holds all the cards. Recognition of Palestine does not preclude talks; it sets the stage for them. It levels the diplomatic playing field, and it acknowledges the fundamental dignity of a people who have waited far too long for self-determination.
The United States, Israel and Japan may believe they are acting with caution. Their inaction is a form of complicity. If they support a two-state solution, they should recognize both states, not just one.
AJ Pearman can be reached at [email protected].