By Daniel Rosen, President of the American Jewish Congress
The recent wave of unilateral announcements recognizing a Palestinian state may generate headlines, but they do not bring peace any closer to reality. Statehood cannot be imposed from abroad. It can only be built through negotiations, coexistence, and mutual recognition.
Statehood Requires Israel’s Cooperation
A Palestinian state cannot be conjured by foreign capitals. It requires direct talks between Israelis and Palestinians to address security, borders, governance, and the realities on the ground. Without Israel’s cooperation, statehood is impossible.
Nearly two years after Hamas’s massacre inside Israel on October 7, Palestinian leaders still refuse to disown Hamas, release Israeli hostages and bodies held in Gaza, or even condemn the terror that shattered any trust. Instead of charting a path to coexistence, they remain trapped in division, radicalization, and incitement.
Failure of Leadership
The Palestinian Authority continues to misgovern the West Bank, while Gaza remains under Hamas’s control. Schoolbooks still teach children to hate Jews, deny Jewish history, and delegitimize Israel. Leaders who cannot unify their society or reject terror are in no position to lead a sovereign state.
History provides further perspective. In 1948, Palestinians rejected a UN plan that would have created two states side by side. They chose war instead, a mistake repeated in 2023 when Hamas launched its barbaric assault. And throughout decades, Israel—today unfairly demonized—has offered peace and statehood multiple times, only to be answered with suicide bombings, knife attacks, and campaigns of hate.
Supporting Aspirations Rooted in Peace
At the American Jewish Congress, we have supported Palestinian aspirations when rooted in peace. Years ago, we even brought Israeli and Palestinian businessmen together to promote economic cooperation. But statehood cannot emerge from violence, denial, and division. It must come through bilateral dialogue, mutual recognition, and the rejection of terror.
The Danger of Mistimed Recognition
Governments rushing to grant recognition today should reflect on their timing. To reward Hamas’s massacre with the promise of statehood is not only misguided, but dangerous. It signals to Palestinians—and terror groups across the region—that terrorism yields political gains, while undermining the very foundations of peace and coexistence.
The Only Path Forward
The only path that can truly deliver peace is direct negotiations, accountability from Palestinian leaders, and a commitment to building a culture of coexistence alongside the State of Israel.
Read the AJCongress press release on this issue here.
