Complex Power Game: the U.S., Europe, and the Israeli Regime

Mohammad Saleh Sedghian, in an interview with the website of the Strategic Council on Foreign Relations, stated: “Recent developments go beyond the issue of recognizing the state of Palestine and are part of a broad political game between the U.S., Europe, and the Israeli regime.” He acknowledged that “the U.S. decision to deny a visa to Mahmoud Abbas and the Palestinian delegation not only signifies opposition to recognizing the state of Palestine but is also an action to exert direct pressure on the Palestinian leadership and limit any political role they may have internationally.”

The West Asia affairs analyst noted that “Europeans, including France and some other countries, are trying to mobilize global public opinion in favor of Palestinians by announcing the recognition of the state of Palestine, but these pressures still lack clarity regarding the geographical boundaries of Palestine.” Sedghian said: “None of the European countries has specified the exact borders of Palestine. This lack of clarity suggests that the political developments in Palestine within international equations remain within an ambiguous and complex framework, and European countries have adopted a posture of supporting Palestine to move forward and respond to European and global public opinion. Still, in practice, there will be no tangible actions.”

According to the West Asia affairs expert, “the pressures from the Israeli regime to consolidate its influence in the West Bank and fully control Gaza are aligned with U.S. plans. The decision to cancel visas and restrict the Palestinian delegation is a direct consequence of the policies of the Israeli regime and efforts to change the political equations of the region, showing that the Netanyahu government has no plan to accept a two-state solution and intends to bring the entire land of Palestine under the sovereignty of the Israeli regime.”

Consequences and Future Horizon for Palestine

Sedghian believes that “the actions of the U.S. and the Israeli regime have a direct impact on the internal equations of Palestine and the legitimacy of the Palestinian Authority.” He explained that “the weakness and performative actions of Mahmoud Abbas’s government and the Palestinian Authority during the two years of the Israeli regime’s crimes in Gaza have caused these institutions to be unable to effectively manage the pressures from this regime and the U.S. This situation may weaken the internal and international legitimacy of Palestine and change the grounds for redefining Palestine’s role in global politics.”

According to this expert, “international pressures from Europe could, in the long term, pave the way for new diplomatic developments and broader recognition of the state of Palestine, although the path is still fraught with twists and turns.” Sedghian emphasized that “canceling the visa of the Palestinian delegation is not merely a temporary diplomatic action but a symbol of the greater challenges of Palestine and the limitations of international law in the face of the unilateral policies of major powers.”

This West Asia affairs analyst believes that “ultimately, these developments show that the equations of Palestine are not only influenced by internal policies but are also shaped by the complex games of global powers, lobbies, and public opinion pressure at the international level. Limiting the presence of Palestinians at the United Nations General Assembly clearly demonstrates the pressure and control of the U.S. and the Israeli regime over international processes and their efforts to manage the fate of Palestine.”