Statehood takes a back seat to bogeyman
- Published: 22/01/2012 at 02:24 AM
- Newspaper section: News
Thailand's recognition of the right to an independent Palestine is a great step forward, but unfortunately it has been overshadowed by the arrest of an Arab man and the surrounding anti-Islam hysteria
Thailand's recognition of a Palestine state as announced on Thursday brings the Kingdom in line with the growing number of countries that have gone down the same path. At the same time, the timing of the recognition cannot be disassociated from the arrest of a Lebanese terrorism suspect, and the anti-Arab/Muslim hysteria now raging across Thai online chat forums, social media and radio waves.
The recognition is a huge step forward for the Palestinian people and a boost for their leaders' policy to take a diplomatic approach in pursuit of statehood. The Palestinians deserve the same freedom as the people of Myanmar, North Korea and Timor Leste. When Western governments drop their double standards and different strokes for different folks foreign policy, the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people may yet be realised.
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About the author
- Writer: Imtiaz Muqbil
- Position: Executive editor of Travel Impact Newswire
