Much has been written about the political earthquakes in Britain and France, the first
resulting in the crushing defeat of the Conservative Party and the latter in the
overpowering of the far right, by a largely leftist coalition.
 
But these were not the only important outcomes of the July 4 and July 7 general elections
in two of Europe's most influential countries.
 
One other important, if not unprecedented outcome, was the centrality of the Palestinian
cause to the political discourses in London and Paris which, in truth, are only reflections
of greater changes underway on the entire European continent and body politic.
 
For a long time, we have been told that outward advocacy of Palestinian rights is a lost
political cause in Europe, where Israel holds a special status due to the West's historical
role in creating, sustaining and defending Israel.
 
That affinity, however, was cemented by more than mere political traditions. In countries
like the United States - but also Britain and France - the pro-Israel lobby served the role
of a powerful constituency. Using money, media influence and alliances with other
influential political and religious circles, they often determined the future of politicians.
 
The American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) is an illustration of the power of
the lobby. Each cycle of US elections is often associated with stories that demonstrate the
disproportionate political power wielded by AIPAC.
The latest example was the June 2024 defeat of progressive Rep. Jamaal Bowman, a New
York Democrat who was unseated by a pro-Israel candidate. It is believed that AIPAC has
spent a whopping 15 million dollars to have Bowman replaced.
 
The support of the lobby, however, is no longer a guarantor of political success, or
failure. This is due to the growing awareness among ordinary Americans of the
Palestinian struggle for freedom, the successful counter strategies of some progressives
and the changing political demographics of the Democratic Party.
 
The Israeli war of ‘extermination’ in Gaza, per the words of International Criminal Court
Prosecutor Karim Khan, has made the cause of Palestinian freedom a global one. No
amount of media disinformation, or lobby money can help Israel redeem its tarnished
image. Many Israelis, too, have reached that realization.
 
The horrific war, the steadfastness of the Palestinian people and the global solidarity
efforts have all served as a boost for many governments around the world to adopt

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stronger stances in support of Palestine. The recent volley of recognitions of a Palestinian
state attests to this claim.
 
Moreover, the rising power of the Palestinian political brand has recently allowed
countries like Spain, Ireland, Norway and Slovenia to defy the US position which
discouraged the recognition of Palestine outside the realm of the so-called 'peace
process.'
 
The political discourse associated with the recent decisions is as important as the
recognitions themselves.
 
Spain's socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez linked Madrid's decision to the "historic
justice for the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people."
 
The country’s Deputy Prime Minister, Yolanda Diaz, went further on May 23, when she
said that Madrid “will continue pressuring (..) to defend human rights and put an end to
the genocide of the Palestinian people”, signing off her statement by declaring: “From the
river to the sea, Palestine will be free.”
 
If such an attitude was confined to a single country, that state would have been seen as
the 'radical' exception. But Spain is only one example.
 
Even before the official results of the French elections were declared, President of the
Parliamentary Bloc of 'France Insoumise' - 'France Unbowed' - Mathilde Panot stated on
July 7 that the bloc would recognize the State of Palestine within two weeks.
 
Particularly interesting about Panot's declaration is that she did not consider the
recognition of Palestine as a symbolic gesture, but as "one of the available means for us
to exert pressure (on Israel).”
 
For the left in France, supporting the Palestinian cause was not a liability during a greatly
contested election. It was one of the secrets to their success. Despite the Right and Far-
Right parties' relentless attempt to stain the left over its stance on the Gaza war, they
failed miserably. 
 
A somewhat similar scenario was repeated in Britain. The Conservatives' hardcore
support for Israel proved worthless, if not a disadvantage. Even pro-Israel members of the
victorious Labor were trounced by independent candidates, namely because of their
positions on the war on Gaza.
 
The above assertion was expressed in a statement by Adnan Hussain, an independent who
defeated Labor's Kate Hollern in Blackburn. “I promise to make your concerns against
the injustice being inflicted against the people of Gaza be heard in the places where our
so-called representatives failed,” he wrote.
 

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The political shift in Europe to a pro-Palestine, or at least less emphatically pro-Israeli
position, is happening at a much faster rate than anyone had hoped or anticipated.
 
Though the war played a big part in this, the shift is expected to grow in the coming years
because European voters are clearly fed up with their governments’ blind support of
Israel.
 
They are using their democratic systems to effect real changes in government, thus
policies with the aim of ending the Israeli occupation of Palestine.
 
Responsible governments, like Spain, Norway and Ireland, are responding to the wishes
of their people accordingly. Others, including the US, should follow suit.
- Dr. Ramzy Baroud is a journalist, author and the Editor of The Palestine Chronicle. He
is the author of six books. His latest book, co-edited with Ilan Pappé, is ‘Our Vision for
Liberation: Engaged Palestinian Leaders and Intellectuals Speak Out’. His other books
include ‘My Father was a Freedom Fighter’ and ‘The Last Earth’. Baroud is a Non-
resident Senior Research Fellow at the Center for Islam and Global Affairs (CIGA). His
website is www.ramzybaroud.net