Is Palestinian Statehood the Gateway to Peace in the Middle East?
Guest Commentary
Audio By Carbonatix
By Dr. Susan Michael, Crosswalk.com
On September 12, 2025, the UN General Assembly adopted the non-binding “New York Declaration on the Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine and the Implementation of the Two-State Solution, with 142 votes in favor and 10 against (including Israel and the United States). The resolution condemned the Hamas attacks of October 7, 2023, and called for Hamas to disarm and hand control of Gaza to the Palestinian Authority (PA) with international support. However, it simultaneously demanded “tangible, time-bound, and irreversible” steps toward creating a Palestinian state alongside Israel.
In response, several nations—notably, Australia, Canada, France, and the United Kingdom—began plans to recognize Palestinian statehood, with or without Israel’s consent. This growing international push to impose a two-state framework is both misguided and detached from reality. By casting Israel as the primary barrier to peace, it ignores critical historical and legal truths.
Far from bringing peace, a Palestinian state would only deepen the conflict—and here are some of the reasons why.
1. A Palestinian State Would Reward and Encourage Terrorism.
Granting statehood at this time would be a reward for the October 7 terror attacks. Hamas and other Palestinian groups have publicly stated that their actions have pushed the issue of statehood back onto the global stage. This move would only embolden Israel’s enemies, fuel future violence, and make peace through negotiation less likely.
2. Palestinians Are Convinced the Only Path to Peace Is the Dismantling of Israel.
What the West fails to recognize is that while they are calling for a two-state solution, the Palestinian people don’t want that. They have been schooled since birth to believe their only hope is in one state—a Palestinian state—in the territory now known as Israel. This is why their slogan is: “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free.” Translated, that means from the Jordan River (Israel’s eastern border) to the Mediterranean Sea (Israel’s western border), there will be a Palestinian state free of Jews.
There is already one state in that territory—the State of Israel—and some 20 percent of Israel’s population is Arab. Though a minority, they are afforded all the rights of Jewish citizens. They have their own political parties, serve in the Knesset, serve on the Supreme Court, and have even been crowned “Miss Israel.”
If a Palestinian state is created, however, the Jewish minority would most likely not be allowed to remain, according to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, who said, “In a final resolution, we would not see the presence of a single Israeli—civilian or soldier—on our lands.” Peace for the Palestinians is a state free of all Jews.
3. Palestinian Hate for the Jews, Explained.
The Palestinian Authority (PA) has historically asserted that Jews are inherently evil and endanger Palestinians, as well as all humanity. This rabid antisemitism fosters a culture of hate that permeates mosques, summer camps, textbooks, television programs, and media outlets. From a young age, children are taught to value terrorism and hate Israelis and Jews, the “occupiers” of the Land of Israel. Being a martyr for the Palestinian cause is glorified. Israel is demonized. And Israel’s mere existence is consistently denied.
In a May 2025 public opinion poll (No. 89), 53 percent of Palestinians surveyed said only violence and armed struggle will end the Israeli “occupation” and that diplomacy and negotiations are not an option. Several similar polls in 2025 affirm that Palestinians believe armed struggle is the most effective way to establish an independent state. The Palestinians simply don’t want to live next to Israel. History proves that at its core, peace is not their goal—a Jew-free state is. Within this context, “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free” is a call for genocide and should be condemned by world powers.
4. Gaza Proves the Fallacy of the Two-State Solution.
Over the last 100 years, Palestinian leadership has consistently turned down opportunities to achieve statehood because negotiating borders and final status issues would entail recognizing the existence of Israel.
Lacking a partner to negotiate with, Israel unilaterally pulled out of Gaza in 2005. A Palestinian government was formed, but was then quickly taken over by Hamas (a Palestinian terrorist group that calls for not only the annihilation of the Jewish State but all Jewish people). Gaza is prime real estate on the Mediterranean coast and could have become a “Singapore of the Middle East.” Instead, Hamas spent every penny and every waking hour working toward the destruction of Israel.
On October 7, 2023, Hamas invaded southern Israel, massacred over 1,200 people, and took more than 250 others hostage in Gaza. Since Israel was not “occupying” Gaza and no Jews had lived there since 2005, why did Hamas attack? Sources say the roots of the attack can be traced to what Gaza children have been taught in schools—including UNRWA schools—and demonstrate the blinding hatred for Jews that whole generations had been taught.
Gaza was a test of Palestinian statehood, and it was a complete and utter failure. But rather than pushing to eliminate Hamas after what it did to innocent Israelis on that dark day, many nations—including the United States—have pushed harder for a Palestinian state.
Why Won't Palestinian Statehood Bring Peace to the Middle East?
While world leaders are calling for two states, PA leaders call for genocide and the creation of a “Jew-free” state. Awarding the Palestinians with statehood after the horrific terrorist attack of October 7 would not bring peace to the Middle East; it would only fuel global terrorism and convince the Palestinian people that they can achieve their goals through violence instead of peaceful negotiation.
Photo Credit: ©GettyImages/Wong Yu Liang
This article was originally published on October 2, 2024. Used with permission.
For over 40 years, Dr. Susan Michael has advanced the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem (ICEJ) in the USA and worldwide. She serves as the USA President and sits on the ICEJ’s international Board of Directors. She is frequently asked to address complex issues to diverse audiences—including antisemitism, Jewish-Christian relations, and Middle East affairs—and does so with clarity and grace. Dr. Michael leads the American Christian Leaders for Israel (ACLI) network, has authored books, such as Encounter the 3D Bible: How to Read the Bible so It Comes to Life, and has developed educational resources, including the IsraelAnswers website, ICEJ U online courses, and curricula for Christian colleges.
