“It is very important to recognize the independence of Palestine, especially given the situation since October 7 and the Israeli army’s counter-offensive in Gaza, where extremist elements in the Israeli government tried to create facts on the ground to obstruct the two-state solution,” stated Rui Tavares at a press event during the presentation of Joana Alves Pereira, the candidate from the “Living Lisbon” coalition (PS/Livre/BE/PAN) for the Areeiro parish council.
Following the Hamas attacks on October 7, 2023, Livre presented a resolution in the Assembly of the Republic for the recognition of the State of Palestine. Tavares pointed out that such recognition by “some key countries in the world” would send a “very powerful message” to the Israeli government that “there was no point in trying to create facts on the ground through ethnic cleansing and genocidal acts, as the world would still recognize the State of Palestine.”
“What will happen in the coming days — from Portugal today, from other countries like France, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia in the next few days — is the message that should have been sent over the years, and it is a very powerful message,” he argued.
The Livre spokesman emphasized that many have “the temptation to view this as merely symbolic in terms of international law and not changing the facts on the ground,” but he underscored that it is the “strongest political message” that can be sent.
“It is somewhat equivalent to when the United States finally told Indonesia that there was no point in trying to create more facts on the ground, as the international community would recognize East Timor’s right to self-determination,” he compared, reiterating that the recognition of the State of Palestine by European countries or Australia and Canada “is the best that can be achieved at this moment.”
Rui Tavares now believes that, following the recognition of the State of Palestine, it is “essential for Portugal to treat the war against Gaza and the occupations in the West Bank as what they are: violations of international law from one state to another, just as Russia’s violations in Ukraine are.”
When asked if he thinks that, nearly two years after the October 7 attacks, Europe is adopting the correct stance towards Israel, not only through the recognition of the State of Palestine but also by ending parts of the Association Agreement between the European Union and Israel, Rui Tavares replied: “For many people, it is already too late.”
“This should deeply shock us because all of this should have been done earlier, and even then, there’s more to be done. We need a total arms embargo, a total suspension of the Association Agreement with Israel, and significant symbolic acts to show the Israeli government leaders that they are moving towards isolation in the world,” he argued.
Rui Tavares expressed regret that action is “starting late” and lamented “the many lives lost,” but stressed that “better late than never.”
“We also claim our part in the ongoing efforts to show people that this was important, that this was essential, not merely symbolic,” he stated.
