01/08/2025
THIS MAY BE THE GREAT HOUR OF THE JEWISH DIASPORA
The growing wave of international support for the recognition of a Palestinian state marks a turning point in today’s geopolitical landscape. What once seemed like a symbolic gesture is now evolving into concrete policy among governments seeking to revive diplomacy toward a just and lasting solution.While the international context is increasingly adverse from an Israeli perspective—especially due to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, the lack of a hostage release agreement with Hamas, and the apparent distance from a ceasefire or the end of hostilities—this moment may also open unique opportunities to transform the tragedy we are living through into renewed hope.Far from taking a confrontational stance, some countries have adopted more balanced positions, combining support for a future Palestinian state with respect for Israel’s right to exist in security. A significant example is the statement made by Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney. In his official remarks, Carney reaffirmed Canada’s stance:“Canada has long held its commitment to a two-state solution: an independent, viable, and sovereign Palestinian state living side by side with the State of Israel in peace and security.”He emphasized that a negotiated solution is “no longer sustainable” and that “the possibility of a Palestinian state is literally vanishing before our eyes,” as a direct result of the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza, the expansion of Israeli settlements, and the threat of unilaterally declaring Israeli sovereignty over occupied territories.At the same time, Carney made clear that Canadian recognition would be subject to conditions: deep reforms within the Palestinian Authority, including general elections in 2026 excluding Hamas, and the demilitarization of the future state.Contrary to what detractors may argue, this is not about rewarding Hamas for its brutal attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, nor about encouraging terrorism in Israel or elsewhere. On the contrary, it is about decisively weakening extremism, delegitimizing its rhetoric of hate, and steering the Palestinian cause toward an institutional, peaceful, and responsible path.Recognizing a Palestinian state is not a concession to violence, but a bet on peace. As long as such recognition is tied to demilitarization, political reform, and respect for international law, it promotes a model opposite to what Hamas represents.This new global scenario may represent the **GREAT HOUR OF THE JEWISH DIASPORA**, whose voice now holds exceptional weight.This is not merely a political moment, but also an ethical, identity-based, and moral challenge for millions of Jews around the world. The Jewish diaspora is not merely calling for the recognition of a Palestinian state—**it demands that Israel itself recognize a Palestinian state**. Not from a place of hostility or external pressure, but from a deep commitment to the historic values of the Jewish people: justice, human dignity, memory of suffering, and the relentless pursuit of peace.This demand is not a sign of alienation from the State of Israel, but rather a way to engage with it from within—a collective conscience that, though living outside its borders, does not feel disconnected from its destiny.In this sense, it becomes imperative to move away from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s policies, which have been widely critiqued for occupation, authoritarianism, and internal fragmentation. Overcoming that model is a necessary condition for opening a new stage in Israel’s development—one based on mutual respect, international legality, and lasting justice. A stage that guarantees both Israel’s security and the legitimacy of Palestinian national aspirations within a framework of shared responsibility and vision.This historical moment also highlights a fundamental principle: the right—and for many, the duty—of Jews around the world to speak out on the present and future of Israel and Palestine. Belonging to the Jewish people transcends state citizenship. To express one’s view is not interference, but a legitimate act of shared responsibility. The conflict is not foreign to those who, for generations, have helped shape a global Jewish identity rooted in ethics, critical thought, and universal solidarity. History does not require their silence, but their awareness.In this sense, the current hour does not only demand diplomatic decisions, but a moral awakening. The voice of the Jewish diaspora cannot and must not be marginal. Far from opposing Israel, this voice seeks to strengthen its legitimacy through a policy aligned with the values that inspired its creation. Recognizing the Palestinian people's right to a state is not to deny Israel's right to exist—it is to affirm that mutual recognition and lasting security are only possible if both peoples can live in freedom, dignity, and peace.It has often been said, with bitter irony, that “the Palestinians never miss an opportunity to miss an opportunity.” Let us not now miss ours. **LET US NOT MISS OUR OPPORTUNITY** to show that the Jewish people—even in the diversity of its voices—can be faithful to its history, lucid in its vision, and courageous in facing the future.**P.S.** This is not a document of political naivety, but a call to support the State of Israel in one of the most difficult hours of its modern history.
