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By now, you’ve probably heard there’s momentum toward recognising a Palestinian state.

Not peace. Not stability. Not even a coherent plan. Just… momentum.

That mysterious political force sooo powerful, it overrides facts, history, national interest and even basic logic.

Everyone, from our federal treasurer to backbench Labor MPs, as well as the news media, has talked about how “momentum” for recognition of a Palestinian state is building.

It’s like they have all agreed to use the word.

And because there is “momentum”, like all things gathering speed, the only appropriate response is to jump aboard.

Apparently, international policy now operates according to the laws of physics.

France to Recognise Palestinian State without Conditions

France started it, of course. Leaping into the Middle East with the elegance of a ballerina in Birkenstocks.

The land that brought us fine wine, flaky croissants, and foreign policy so buttery it melts under pressure, declared they’d recognise a Palestinian state in September – unconditionally.

Because nothing says “principled stand” like giving statehood to a divided territory – where half is run by corrupt bureaucrats, and the other half by armed jihadists chanting “Death to Israel”… when not stealing food from their own people.

But no matter. There’s “momentum”.

The important thing isn’t what France said – it’s that they said it.

And just like that, momentum was born…

In quick time, leaders across the Western world began gently clearing their throats and muttering the word “momentum” like it was some sacred chant.

Cue the UK, where Prime Minister Keir Starmer – sensing momentum – didn’t want to miss the bandwagon.

He promptly announced he, too, was warming to the idea of statehood for Palestine.

And yesterday Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney joined in the chorus.

It’s not leadership; it’s choreography.

Recognition of a Palestinian State Is Probably Illegal

What began as a vague nod of approval from one European nation became the gravitational force dragging entire governments into a policy they can’t define, and clearly haven’t thought through.

Recognition of a Palestinian State is so poorly thought through in fact… it probably isn’t even legal.

Some of the UK’s most respected lawyers have written to Keir Starmer warning that recognising a Palestinian State would break international law.

They have pointed out that International Law says a state must possess four things:

• A defined territory.
• A permanent population.
• A government.
• The capacity to enter into relations with other states.

Palestine, awkwardly, ticks exactly none of these boxes.

There’s no agreement over the borders of a proposed Palestinian state.

And as for a permanent population, they point out that the Palestinians have always been regarded as refugees.

If governments are now recognising Palestinians as a permanent population, then they should immediately be stripped of refugee status and the billions of dollars in funding that goes with it.

The 40 members of the House of Lords also argue that there is no functioning single government to recognise – half the territory the West wants to recognise as Palestine is governed by a group the West has proscribed as a terrorist group.

International Law and the Perfect Circle of Stupidity

So here’s where we’ve arrived…

The very nations that scream about Israel violating international law in their treatment of the Palestinians now plan to break international law in order to recognise a State of Palestine.

It’s a perfect circle of stupidity.

But then again, what else can they do? There’s “momentum”!

How many Australian politicians have we heard come out this week saying “it’s a matter of when, not if” we recognise a Palestinian state.

The idea is that our government is now caught up in this tsunami of international group think and is apparently powerless to resist.

But “momentum” is not an argument. And no-one is putting forward a compelling case to recognise Palestine.

I mean, no-one aside from Hamas.

But that’s not important. What matters is that there’s “momentum.”

Actually, Ed Husic had a crack at explaining the rationale. He told Sky News …

“Hamas is built largely on grievance. That grievance gets removed with the establishment of a state of Palestine.”

Ah yes, the old “give terrorists what they want and they’ll stop being terrorists” theory. Nobel Peace Prizes all round!

Hamas only behave the way they do – raping and murdering and taking hostages that they can rape and murder – because they’re upset.

But if we give them what they want, they won’t have a reason to rape and murder and stuff. So let’s do that.

It’s insanity.

And the only thing more dangerous than insanity, is insanity that has… momentum.

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Republished with thanks to The James Macpherson Report.

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Images via screenshot of YouTube/ABC News and Australian Government/Wikimedia Commons..