OPINION: Embracing recognition of Palestine is not a betrayal of Israel

Over recent years, Israelis have found themselves reaching out to the international community and the diaspora in a way they never have before.

Israelis don’t seek salvation, but partners who will help in their fight for a secure, democratic Jewish state.

As we approach two years of war, and the pillars of democracy continue to be weakened by Netanyahu’s government, Israelis have called on international allies and the Jewish diaspora to intervene.

I’m spending this week in the UK – and I’m echoing the call for support.

Not for the Israeli government, but for Israel’s people and future.

Countries around the world, including the United Kingdom, have signalled their intent to recognise a Palestinian state during this month’s United Nations General Assembly.

This is more than symbolism; it’s a chance to reaffirm commitment to the
only viable resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict: a two-state solution.

Netantayahu’s continues to promise a ‘total victory’ over Hamas – but no war can be won through military means alone.

Hamas must be defeated through politics and policy – recognising Palestine as a state that will sit alongside, not instead of, Israel
– offers an ideological alternative to Hamas.

It defeats their ideological purpose, and promises an alternative for Palestinians and Israelis alike; as extremists on both sides paint maps of one state, we must insist on two states for two people.

In the UK, there is cross-party consensus on this issue, and polling shows the majority of British Jews also support a negotiated two-state outcome.

Recognising Palestine is not a reward for Hamas, nor a punishment for Israel. It’s a statement of principle: that Palestinians have the right to self-determination, and that the future of this region cannot be dictated by extremists.

Palestinian statehood should not be conditioned on the behaviour of others.

It is a rejection of maximalist visions of extremes on both sides: those who demand total sovereignty “from the river to the sea”; and those who advocate permanent occupation or annexation.

Whether it’s Hamas or Israel’s far-right ministers, both pursue a one-state reality cleansed of the other.

Their vision is not peace, but of endless war – they put territory above people. Israel’s government is directly impacting Jewish communities across the world, its actions are directly feeding into the rise of antisemitism globally.

Netanyahu must be held accountable for his cynical use, and misuse, of antisemitism – which serves him politically whilst making Jewish people pay the price.

Recently, a group of former Mossad, Shin Bet, and IDF chiefs – myself included – publicly called for an end to the war and the release of all hostages.

The war has achieved its military objectives. Continuing it now serves no strategic purpose; it is a political project, one that endangers Israeli lives rather than protecting them.

The ongoing expansion of the military operations in Gaza will place the remaining hostages at even greater risk.

He is now in open conflict with the IDF chief of staff Eyal Zamir, who he himself appointed, as Zamir has warned that continuing the war
endangers Israeli soldiers, deepens our strategic vulnerabilities, and undermines the goal of rescuing hostages.

The Israeli public is not blind to this. Polling shows that the majority of Israelis want to end the war and bring the hostages home.

This is not Israel’s war.

As we call for an end to this war, we must be brave enough to ask: what comes next?

Netanyahu has no answer. Into this void, extremists like Ben Gvir and
Smotrich are promoting messianic visions that will lead only to more violence.

We cannot afford to wait for a perfect moment to offer an alternative – we must do so now.

Recognition of Palestine offers that opportunity. It strengthens moderate Palestinian actors, such as the Palestinian Authority, whose president, Mahmoud Abbas, recently reaffirmed support for a two-state solution.

The PLO recognised Israel’s right to exist back in 1988, then during the Oslo process, and again by joining the Arab Peace Initiative in 2002. Meanwhile, Israel has yet to recognise a Palestinian state.

We cannot continue to claim there is “no partner for peace” while refusing to acknowledge the one that exists.

The British Prime Minister has explicitly called for Hamas to disarm and stated they will play no role in governing Gaza.

Recognition is a step toward rebuilding a diplomatic path that includes regional partners such Saudi Arabia, and others, and re-engaging with initiatives like the Arab Peace Initiative.

I understand the discomfort this raises, particularly in the UK’s Jewish community, where the rise in antisemitism since October 7 th has been deeply alarming.

The Palestinian flag, for some, has become a symbol not of statehood, but of terror and hatred, a symbol to be feared.

I also know that there are growing tensions within the community, divides, and it saddens me to see many young people turning their
backs on Israel and the Jewish community.

Unity and change won’t come through silence, but taking a brave and reasoned stance.

Treating this as a zero-sum conflict, where one side’s gain is the other’s loss, guarantees that we all lose.

Unlike extremists on both sides, we recognise a simple truth: Israelis and Palestinians are not going anywhere. There will be two peoples between the river and the sea.

The only question is whether they will live in peace – or in perpetual war.

British Jews and allies abroad have a role to play in helping us choose peace.

I want to be clear: Jews in the diaspora mustn’t be held accountable for the actions of Israel’s government.

But I expect that those who care about this issue support Israelis, through action, and taking a clear stand, be part of the debate.

Embracing the two-state solution, and supporting steps like recognising Palestine, is not a betrayal of Israel – it is a path to saving it.

We already know the cost of inaction.

October 7 was not the beginning of the violence, and it won’t be the end.

Netanyahu’s conflict management policy, and the deteriorating status quo, led to the October massacre.

It’s leading us to a disastrous one-state reality.

The time has come to create a different reality, through actions – diplomacy and policies that lead to a two-state reality.