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U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has dismissed recent moves by Western countries to recognize Palestine as "irrelevant," asserting that a Palestinian state cannot exist without Israel's consent.
In an interview with Fox Radio, Rubio described the recognition of Palestine by some Western governments as "meaningless," claiming such declarations have no practical effect. “It’s irrelevant. It may be frustrating to some, but it means nothing,” he said.
The U.S. remains firmly aligned with Israel, Rubio emphasized. “None of these countries has the power to create a Palestinian state. There won’t be one until Israel agrees to it,” he added.
Rubio argued that states recognizing Palestine do not have a clear understanding of the future state's geography or governance. He warned that such decisions could backfire, calling them “counterproductive.”
The top U.S. diplomat went further, accusing these countries of effectively aligning with Hamas, stating: “At the end of the day, Hamas stands for the Palestinian state, and you're rewarding them.”
Rubio also criticized the U.K.’s position, which includes recognizing Palestine by September if no ceasefire is reached. He argued this would undermine ongoing truce negotiations, labeling the move “clumsy.”
According to Rubio, these recognitions are driven by domestic political pressure in Europe and Canada rather than by any alignment with on-the-ground realities.
France, Canada, Malta, and the U.K. are among several nations to announce plans to recognize Palestine. French President Emmanuel Macron confirmed his intention to do so in a June 24 speech, with a formal declaration expected during the UN General Assembly in September.
U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer has similarly tied recognition to Israel meeting specific conditions. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and Malta’s foreign ministry have also pledged to endorse Palestinian statehood at the upcoming U.N. session.
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