Antony Blinken: Discussion about the Palestinian state must wait.

Former Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated in an op-ed published in the Wall Street Journal regarding the recent decision by several Western countries to immediately recognize a Palestinian state that "avoiding famine, recovering hostages, and ending the conflict in Gaza are the priorities," not recognizing the Palestinian state.

Blinken described the decisions by Britain, France, Canada, and Australia to recognize a Palestinian state as "morally correct," but added that ending the war in Gaza and releasing the hostages should be the priority.

In the op-ed he published on Monday in the Wall Street Journal, Blinken - the top U.S. diplomat during former President Joe Biden's administration - wrote that recognizing a Palestinian state "reflects a global consensus," but warned of "more urgent realities" amid the war in Gaza.

He considered that "avoiding famine, recovering hostages, and ending the conflict in Gaza are the priorities. The talk of two states can wait." In recent weeks, the United Kingdom, France, Canada, and Australia indicated their intention to recognize a Palestinian state at the United Nations General Assembly in September.

While Blinken wrote that recognizing a Palestinian state has its merits, it should be done "at the right time and in the right way" to help facilitate the Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and assist in reaching a normalization agreement between Israel and Saudi Arabia.

The former minister, who visited Israel more than 14 times between October 23, 2023, and the end of his term as U.S. Secretary of State on January 20, 2025, wrote: "Polls indicate that a majority of Israelis may rally around such a plan. In return, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu may abandon his corrupt coalition to achieve it."

According to the former Secretary of State, Israel has already achieved two of its three declared goals in Gaza: destroying Hamas's military wing and killing the leaders responsible for the October 7 attacks.

However, Blinken wrote in response to Netanyahu's plan to impose reoccupation of the sector that Israel's third goal - releasing the remaining hostages - "is unlikely to be achieved" through control of the Gaza Strip. Blinken argued in the article that unconditional recognition would not contribute to "establishing a Palestinian state or ending the suffering in Gaza." He stated that Palestinian leaders must commit to ensuring Israel's security in exchange for recognition. He wrote: "[This] will strengthen the position of Palestinian supporters of terrorism and Israeli opponents of a Palestinian state," a reality echoed by President Donald Trump, current Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and other figures in the current administration. Instead of unilateral recognition, Blinken said that moving forward should include "a condition-based timeline" toward establishing a Palestinian state.

He said: "While the Palestinians have the right to self-determination, this right comes with responsibility." He added: "No one should expect Israel to accept a Palestinian state led by Hamas or other terrorists, or an armed state or one that includes independent armed militias, or a state allied with Iran or others who reject Israel's right to exist, or a state that nurtures and preaches hatred of Jews or Israel, or a failed state, if it is not reformed."

Blinken called on Israel to address the deteriorating humanitarian conditions in Gaza while simultaneously preparing to withdraw its forces. He stated that Israel must stop expanding settlements in the West Bank and demolishing Palestinian homes, and rein in "extremist settlers who commit acts of violence and intimidation against Palestinians." The former minister wrote: "Israel faces the prospect of a permanent conflict in Gaza, a serious internal division, and a decline in its global standing. Israelis and Palestinians must decide what their relationship will look like in the future."

Blinken, who has supported the Israeli genocide since its inception until the end, did not mention in his article the Israeli genocide, nor did he criticize the distribution of humanitarian aid through the "Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF)" despite global acknowledgment that this foundation aims to kill and deport Palestinians.