A wise man once said, “You don’t have to agree with other people, but it is important to understand them.” Looking at the wave of recognition of the non-existent State of Palestine, which has never existed in history as an independent country, it is very important not to be part of some anti/pro-team, but to understand the actual reasons and motivations for the actions of European leaders in the past weeks.
Yes, what was happening in the Gaza Strip was a tragedy. So is the violent death of every human being. However, the desperate attempts of some Greta-style politicians to gain popularity, electoral ratings, and votes by exploiting this tragedy represent a whole new level of hypocrisy, double standards, and populism.
And yet the timing is telling. Why Britain, why France, why Spain, and why now? The answer, unfortunately, is not a noble one: immigration, fear, radical Islam, and populism—Muslim immigrants from North Africa and the Middle East flood most countries in Western Europe. According to data from the French National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies (INSEE) and the National Institute for Demographic Studies (INED), Muslims comprise approximately 10% of the French adult population. Many live in so-called “no-go zones” and refuse integration into the society that welcomed them.
Remember the saying “Weak men create hard times?” The weak leaders of the woke, globalist West have proven it true. Open borders, “Refugees Welcome” policies, bloated welfare programs, and timid governments have allowed millions to settle in Europe with entirely different sets of values. Whole cities, such as Paris, Marseille, London, and Birmingham, have become dangerous for their own citizens and tourists. This is the result of an invasion disguised as compassion.
Now comes the hard truth: Western politicians fear these minorities, depend on their votes, and try desperately to avoid unrest. When elections come, they cannot afford to alienate these communities. For Macron, Starmer, Sánchez, and others, the easiest solution is a symbolic recognition of “Palestine.” No need to answer the uncomfortable questions: What Palestine? Where is it? Who are the Palestinians? Instead, they cosplay compassion and pretend October 7th never happened.
Questions like “Who started the war?” or “How do you make peace with someone committed to your destruction?” go unanswered. The media does not demand accountability because leaders cannot give an honest response. All they can offer is pro-Palestine theater, designed to appease restless voters and avoid riots. These leaders are no longer statesmen; they are hostages.
It is tempting to label this recognition wave as anti-Israel, anti-Semitic, or pro-Hamas. While those descriptions may carry truth, they are not the whole story. Place yourself in Macron’s shoes for a moment. Seven million Muslims in France could ignite chaos if they feel the state is against them. Recognition of Palestine becomes not a policy, but a matter of survival politics.
That is why each time a Western leader recognizes “Palestine,” we must look beyond the speeches. Examine the demographics, the immigration statistics, the welfare state, and the cultural collapse. When you do, the motivation is clear: the population has changed, and with it the politics.
There are still leaders of courage. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni made it plain: “If something that does not exist is recognized on paper, it will look like the problem is solved, while actually it is not.” Her clarity stands in stark contrast to her European counterparts.
Meanwhile, across the Atlantic, New York, a city scarred by 9/11, may soon elect Mamdani, an open supporter of radical anti-Israel rhetoric. The question “How is this possible?” can only be answered by acknowledging that the population of New York, like that of Europe, is not the same as it was twenty years ago.
Here lies the ultimate tragedy: unlike Hamas’s hostages, Western leaders chose their captivity. They opened their borders, weakened their laws, and invited millions who neither share their values nor respect their nations. Now, desperate to hold onto power, they cater to the demands of those who despise them.
Recognition of Palestine is not a step toward peace. It is a surrender of principle. It is the act of weak men creating more challenging times, eroding the very foundations of Western civilization. If Europe continues down this road, its leaders will not only betray Israel, they will betray their own people, their history, and the Judeo-Christian values that made the West free and prosperous. That betrayal will be remembered, and its consequences will last for generations to come.
George Harizanov is the CEO of the Institute for Right-Wing Policies in Sofia, Bulgaria.
