US Senators Urge Recognition of Palestinian State

A group of U.S. senators on September 18 introduced the first Senate resolution calling on Washington to recognize a Palestinian state. According to experts, this once again demonstrates the shift in Washington's sentiment toward Israel, nearly two years after the start of the war with Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

Oregon Democrat Jeff Merkley, who is leading the effort, said in a statement: "America has a responsibility to lead, and the time to act has come." The resolution calls on the U.S. to recognize a demilitarized Palestinian state alongside a secure Israel, which would give hope to both sides and increase the prospects for peace, Merkley said. Other co-sponsors of the Senate resolution include Democrats Chris Van Hollen of Maryland, Tim Kaine of Virginia, Peter Welch of Vermont, Tina Smith of Minnesota, Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin, and Mazie Hirono of Hawaii, as well as independent Bernie Sanders of Vermont, who caucuses with the Democrats. Sanders, by the way, on September 17 became the first U.S. senator to describe the events in Gaza as genocide.

This Democratic-led initiative is unlikely to pass the Senate, where President Donald Trump's Republicans have a majority. President Trump reiterated the ruling party's approach on September 18, stating that he does not agree with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on the recognition of a Palestinian state.

As a reminder, a UN commission of inquiry this week concluded that Israel has committed genocide in Gaza. Israel has countered that the conclusions are biased and based on unverified evidence.

Some of the U.S.'s allies are preparing to recognize a Palestinian state. The topic will be on the agenda next week at the UN General Assembly in New York.