Gideon Levy: Recognition without halting the genocide and settlement is an empty gift.

Israeli writer Gideon Levy criticized the recent wave of international recognition of the Palestinian state, stating that it does not change anything about the reality of occupation, genocide, and settlement.

In an opinion piece in the Israeli newspaper Haaretz, he wrote that on the day 10 Western countries announced their joining 159 countries that recognized the State of Palestine, settlers were attacking a Palestinian village in the eastern West Bank, stealing dozens of sheep and beating an elderly shepherd (81 years old) and his grandson with sticks until they broke both of his arms, without regard for his old age, while the Israeli police falsely accused the victims of being the ones who stole from the settlers.

Levy points out that the recognition of the State of Palestine has not prevented the ongoing genocide in the Gaza Strip, where dozens of Palestinians are killed daily for months, and it has not changed anything about the reality of the siege and destruction.

The irony that the writer sees is that the recognition of the Palestinian state "has not and will not save even one child in Gaza from bombing," adding that the besieged strip is no longer suitable for human life, and the situation of Palestinians in the West Bank is gradually heading in the same direction.

Levy noted that Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas was not even allowed to attend the United Nations conference on the two-state solution, in a blatant violation by Washington of its agreement with the UN organization.

He said that the state, which he believes is in the process of formation and is almost recognized by the entire world, will only be able to participate in United Nations General Assembly meetings via video link, while "the number one wanted by the International Criminal Court" will deliver his speech from the podium, referring to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

It is worth mentioning that Netanyahu is wanted by international justice on charges of committing war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.

The writer believes that the world's recognition, especially from "self-righteous" Europe, is nothing more than "empty rhetoric" directed at the victims of Gaza and the West Bank, while genocide continues unabated and settlers wreak havoc in the West Bank with the participation of the occupation army.

He adds sarcastically that heads of state can now reassure themselves and their angry citizens by saying: "We have punished the criminal and rewarded the victim. We no longer need to exert effort for Gaza; we have done our duty."

He goes on to say that all Israeli parties, even those in opposition, united in condemning the recognition, claiming that it is an expression of anti-Semitism.

Levy concludes that recognizing a Palestinian state under the current circumstances is "ridiculous and insane," emphasizing that there is no real partner for a two-state solution either in Israel or in Palestine, and that the West Bank has become nothing but scattered islands under occupation, while Gaza is destroyed.

Levy stated that real salvation requires the immediate imposition of strict sanctions on Israel, or adopting a long-term vision based on "democracy for all people from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea."