Understanding Palestinian diplomacy in 21st century : future, prospective and the role of the EU in fostering the Palestinian statehood

Abstract

Palestinian diplomacy is considered as a unique and distinct case in the modern history which is different from states diplomacy. Palestinian diplomacy has started in the absence of sovereign Palestinian political entity and emerged from outside the Palestinian Territory and before the establishing the Palestinian National Authority. Despite the political and diplomatic developments of Palestine, and the fact that Palestine has been recognized in more than courtesy manner by virtued as a fully sovereign state.e of the diplomatic interaction by other states, Palestine is still until now not recognis The EU's position towards the direct recognition of Palestinian statehood has been articulated progressively over the decades. The EU has taken an active role in the Middle East peace process, through developing many diplomatic instruments and policies to support Palestinian state-building. However, EU is still relent and hesitant in its support for a Palestinian state and the EU Member States have been divided between themselves on the question of Palestinians state at the UN. The incentive for the researcher of this study is to provide an overview of Palestinian diplomacy as well as to analyse EU's policy towards fostering Palestinian state. The research therefore recalls that, to what extent is the EU policy towards Palestine aiding the establishment of a fully functioning, legally recognized Palestinian state? Thus, the research argues that, the EU as a largest single donor to the Palestinian and a member of the Quartet, as well as with its new speaking powers at the UN can do immense effort regarding to the Palestinian bid at the UN and fostering the Palestinian statehood. The study mainly uses typical academic approaches, such as descriptive, analytical and inductive approaches. The method of analyses encompasses primary and secondary sources of law that pertain to diplomacy. As well, interviews have been conducted with diplomats in order to in-depth analyses both the Palestinian and European perspectives which at the end would definitely enrich the research.

The study has concluded, inter alia, that the EU may gain more value and more important role towards the Middle East peace process by supporting the Palestinian State. Therefore, the EU shall succeed to find a common position between its member states in order to speak with one voice regarding to the Palestinian bid to the UN. However, in the event that the EU fails to reach a unified consensus on a Palestinian bid, the EU would show its internal split which ultimately undermine its credibility and confirming that the EU is not yet able to speak with one voice regarding to the Palestinian State.