While Benjamin Netanyahu railed against the wave of countries recognizing Palestine, New Zealand’s Foreign Minister offered a more cautious perspective, highlighting that the allied shift is not monolithic. Winston Peters stated his country would not recognize Palestine at this time, fearing it could “complicate efforts to secure a ceasefire.”
This position offers a glimpse into the thinking of some Western nations who, while committed to a two-state solution, are wary of the timing. Peters argued that recognition now could push both Israel and Hamas into “more intransigent positions,” effectively hardening the conflict rather than resolving it.
This nuanced stance provides a counterpoint to the binary conflict on display in the General Assembly hall. It suggests that even among traditional allies, there is a debate not just about the end goal, but about the strategy and timing required to achieve it.
Netanyahu’s speech, however, made no such distinctions, lumping all 157 nations that recognize Palestine into a single group that made a “horribly wrong” decision. This black-and-white approach risks alienating even those allies, like New Zealand, who are attempting to navigate a more cautious diplomatic path.
