‘Lack of political will’: Anne Irfan on West decades-long inaction in recognising Palestinian state

“It’s striking that many of the states now recognizing Palestine have said for about 30 years that they support a two-state solution. Which begs the question: if you’ve supported it for so long, why has it taken this long to recognise one of those states?” Cutting through decades of political delay and symbolic gestures, Historian Dr Anne Irfan joins Genie Godula to lay bare the uncomfortable truths behind recent moves by Western nations to recognise the state of Palestine. As Gaza remains under siege and geopolitical allegiances calcify, Dr. Irfan warns that recognition, without substance or legal accountability, risks leading to another empty chapter where states signal virtue while sidestepping responsibility. Dr. Irfan is a Lecturer in Interdisciplinary Race, Gender and Postcolonial Studies at UCL.