Wait, the UK Just Recognized Palestine? (But Saudi Arabia Beat Them to It by Decades 😲)
Hey Tumblr fam, if you're anything like me, you've been glued to the news about Palestine— the heartbreak in Gaza, the endless calls for a ceasefire, and now this seismic shift in global politics. On September 21, 2025, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer dropped a bombshell: the United Kingdom finally recognized the State of Palestine. It's a huge win for the two-state solution, but here's the plot twist—Saudi Arabia recognized Palestine back in 1988. Why the massive time gap? Why did one Arab powerhouse jump in early while a former colonial giant dragged its feet for 37 years? Let's unpack this with some real talk, history, and geopolitics. (Grab your tea— or coffee if you're repping the resistance ☕✊)
Saudi Arabia: The OG Ally Since Day One
Picture this: It's November 1988. The Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) declares statehood in Algiers, claiming the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as the capital. Boom— 83 countries, mostly from the Global South and Arab world, line up to say "yes" almost immediately. Saudi Arabia? Front of the queue.
Arab Solidarity on Lock: As a key player in the Arab League, Saudi's been ride-or-die for Palestinian rights since the 1948 Nakba. They've poured billions into aid, hosted summits, and even launched the 2002 Arab Peace Initiative— offering full normalization with Israel if Palestine gets statehood. Recognition wasn't just symbolic; it was a flex against occupation.
No Strings Attached: Unlike Western powers tangled in alliances, Saudi saw Palestine as a core Muslim and Arab issue. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) has doubled down recently, co-chairing UN conferences with France to push global recognition and vowing no Israel ties without a Palestinian state.
Strategic Smarts: Fast-forward to 2025, and Saudi's still leading the charge— welcoming the UK's move as a "vital step" toward peace. They're not just talking; they're building alliances to make two states happen.
TL;DR: Saudi's been Team Palestine since the jump because it's about justice, not optics.
(Insert here: A vintage photo of Yasser Arafat at the 1988 declaration, overlaid with a Saudi flag for that historical vibe.)
The UK: Better Late Than Never? (Spoiler: Kinda)
Enter the UK in 2025— joining 157 other UN members (yep, over 80% now recognize Palestine). Starmer's announcement? Timed for the UN General Assembly, coordinated with Canada, Australia, and Portugal. But why now, after decades of "maybe later"?
Gaza Broke the Camel’s Back: The war's horrors— starvation, bombings, over 40k dead— flipped public opinion. Polls showed 70% of Brits want recognition; Labour MPs pushed it in their manifesto. Starmer called it "the moment to act" before the two-state dream dies.
Historical Guilt Trip: Remember the Balfour Declaration (1917)? The UK basically promised a Jewish homeland on Palestinian land without asking the locals. Starmer leaned into that "special responsibility" to fix it.
Pressure Play: It's a jab at Israel (and the US)— "End the war, commit to peace, or we recognize anyway." Coordinated with allies like France, it's meant to "galvanize" a post-Gaza roadmap, excluding Hamas.
But let's be real: Critics say it's symbolic AF without teeth— no UN full membership (thanks, US veto), and Israel's still annexing West Bank land. Still, it's progress. 150+ countries in? The map's changing.
(Mood pic: Starmer at the UN podium, contrasted with Gaza protest art for that emotional punch.)
The Big Why: Geopolitics 101 (Allies vs. Empathy)
So, Saudi early, UK late— what's the tea?
Alliances Matter: UK's hitched to the US-Israel wagon, holding out for "final status" talks. Saudi? Free to lead the Arab bloc, using recognition as leverage against normalization without justice.
Power Dynamics: Western hesitance stems from fear of "rewarding" Palestinians pre-peace deal. Arab states like Saudi flipped the script: Recognition forces the deal.
The Shift: Post-Oct 7, everything changed. Saudi paused Israel talks; the West woke up to eroding two-state viability. Now, with France and Saudi co-hosting summits, it's a united front.
Bottom line? Early birds like Saudi built the nest; latecomers like the UK are finally flying in. But symbols need action— ceasefires, aid, no more settlements.
What do you think— game-changer or too little too late? Reblog if you're amplifying Palestinian voices, and let's keep the pressure on. Free Palestine 🇵🇸 #Palestine #TwoStateSolution #UKRecognizesPalestine #SaudiArabia #Gaza #Geopolitics #MiddleEast #BDS #FromTheRiverToTheSea
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