Part 4/10:
The Conditions for Recognizing Palestine
Addressing questions about the conditions necessary for recognition, Patterson advocates for strict preconditions: Hamas's disarmament, the return of hostages, and genuine efforts toward demilitarization. He argues that as long as Hamas maintains its militancy and refuses to relinquish control over Gaza’s military infrastructure, recognition remains unlikely, regardless of global momentum.
He criticizes the notion of recognizing Palestine simply based on international trends, emphasizing that foreign policy should serve national interests and support peaceful resolution efforts. Recognizing a Palestinian state without ensuring these conditions could undermine efforts to achieve peace and stability in the region.