Two decades ago, Israel withdrew from Gaza. It has become a cautionary tale

While PA makes promising explanations, including condemning the October 7 attacks, calling for the disarmament of Hamas and committing reforms, they should be evaluated by actions, not words. It remains empty to talk about stateism without concrete reforms to improve transparency, end incentives and strengthen the rule of law. Only elections do not create democracy.

In Gaza, democratic governance guards raised extremist supporters because they were missing. The result is not freedom, but pressure. Real leadership demands that the hard work of reshaping Palestinian governance and the dismantling of the terrorist infrastructure should be made without even considering recognition.

For decades, Palestinian leaders have defined their struggles by opposing the existence of Israel instead of staying together with living together. Before the dismantling of Hamas, recognizing a Palestinian state before the hostages returned and before PA reform would repeat the error of separation on a much larger scale.

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Only weeks ago, Prime Minister Anthony Arnavut said that Australia would not closely recognize a Palestinian state. Then the only thing that changes is that Hamas becomes more established. The ironic was encouraged by France’s decision to get to know the Palestinian state for recognizing the US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, not because of Israel’s uncompromination of Israel, but from the cease -fire negotiations. While encouraging Hamas, pressure on Israel is unfair and strategically reckless.

Recognition should not be based on punishing Israel. The result is a rewarding for a strategy of stacking food to place Hamas into civil infrastructure, risk civilians and raise international pressure on Israel.

The discourse of Australia and the West cannot face this reality. In the Middle East, the Arab states condemn Hamas and demand Palestinian leadership that can exist with Israel. Meanwhile, in Australia, the loudest sounds in the debate refused to condemn terrorism and a deep hostility to Israel’s existence, not from the vision of peace, both left and right.

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If we allow the extreme ends to dominate the discussion, we will lose the possibility of a two -state solution. They are not interested in reform or living together; They are looking for the elimination of Israel.

We must regain the central, the Palestinian state with a principled stance that supports the Palestinian state as a result, but arises from peace, recognition and reform. Any sustainable solution should include Israel. A nation that struggles to apply the Palestinian state to Israel to survive against those who seek destruction.

This is not a call to leave hope. It is a call to learn from history.

We all desire to a peaceful future of a safe Israel alongside a peaceful Palestinian state. However, this future cannot be built on fantasies or moral shortcuts. The facts should be based on history and principle. If the separation of Gaza teaches us something, it is: Regional control without institutional reform leads to bloodshed, not peace.

Recognition may be the light on the hill – but it cannot be presented to those who have not yet climbed the mountain. If the Palestinian state is inevitable, let’s do hard work to make it successful.

Jeremy Leibler is the president of the Australian Zionist Federation.