EXCLUSIVE: Lawmakers blast "historic mistake" by United Kingdom, France, Australia, and Canada for recognizing a country that has never existed
"Palestine" is not and has never been a country. Lawmakers explain to the Washington Reporter why American allies are making a big mistake.
Days before the anniversary of the worst massacre of Jews since the Holocaust, several of America’s closest allies announced plans to recognize “Palestine” as a country — despite any evidence that such a country has ever existed.
Within hours, the Trump administration and top lawmakers blasted the move — and lawmakers immediately explained to the Washington Reporter why and how the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and France are rewarding Palestinian terrorism.
Sen. Tom Cotton (R., Ark.) — long one of the biggest foes in Congress of Palestinian terrorism — told the Reporter that is is “shameful that countries are rewarding terrorists with recognition.”
“This is a transparent attempt to appease Islamists in Europe, and it will only make peace less likely,” Cotton explained, adding that “we should back Israel in its just war against Hamas to free the hostages.”
Cotton’s remarks echoed what the Senate’s top foreign policy Republican — Sen. Jim Risch (R., Idaho) — told the Reporter: that “this recognition rewards Hamas, a terror group that thrust millions of Gazans into a terrible war, that uses Palestinian women and children as human shields, and that relies on their suffering for its political success.”
For many lawmakers, like Sen. James Lankford (R., Okla.), noted that American allies made these announcement on the eve of the Jewish New Year. Some of the leaders, like the United Kingdom’s Keir Starmer even met in person with Trump last week, but refused to tell him of their plans.
“As Jews across America and around the world prepare to celebrate the High Holidays, the terrorists of Hamas continue to hold Jewish hostages,” Lankford said. “Instead of insisting on the immediate release of the hostages, some nations have determined that right now is the moment to recognize a Palestinian state, with no agreed upon leader, which gives into the demands of Hamas and encourages more violence to achieve their goals.”
When it comes to the upper chamber, top Republicans warned American allies that these moves — which Karoline Leavitt reiterated from the White House podium that President Donald Trump opposes — won’t come without consequence.
“Republican Senators will remember this the next time the British Embassy comes begging for help with tariffs or a trade deal or visas,” a Senate GOP source told the Reporter. “They'll find that Republicans don't like doing business with countries that back terrorists.”
On the House side, a trio of members who are now running statewide back home, explained to the Reporter that this move is a mistake.
Rep. Ashley Hinson (R., Iowa), who is running to replace the seat being vacated by Sen. Joni Ernst (R., Iowa), told the Reporter that “it’s unconscionable that countries would side with Hamas terrorists following the October 7th attacks and the ongoing atrocities they perpetuate in the Middle East.”
“Enabling terrorists will only lead to continued human suffering and dangerous extremist threats,” Hinson continued. “The United States, under President Trump, will continue to stand with Israel.” The Reporter reached out to Democrats Zach Wahls and Josh Turek, both of whom are running for Senate against Hinson, for comment. Neither responded.
Rep. Randy Feenstra (R., Iowa) who — like Hinson — is running statewide in Iowa for governor, told the Reporter that he is “grateful that President Trump is working nonstop to secure the release of the hostages and advance peace through strength across the globe.”
“Israel is our strongest and closest ally in the Middle East, and we must always have their backs,” Feenstra said. “Recognizing a Palestinian state while Hamas terrorists kill innocent Israelis and hold hostages with no remorse is wrong.”
Another House Republican who is now running statewide is Rep. Andy Barr (R., Ky.) — one of the most senior members of the House Foreign Affairs Committee (HFAC). Barr, who is now running for Senate, singled America’s allies out by name for their “historic mistake.”
“Australia, France and the U.K. are key allies of the United States,” Barr said, “but they are making a historic mistake. Diplomatic recognition of a ‘Palestinian state’ is a reward for Hamas. Hamas is a terrorist organization committed to killing every Jewish person they can; they butchered Israelis and Americans on October 7th and still refuse to release all of the hostages taken in October 2023.”
“I call on Australia, France and the U.K. to reverse this decision, at least until all hostages, living and deceased, are released and returned to their loved ones and Gaza is fully demilitarized,” Barr said.
Another lawmaker who singled out American allies for criticism is Rep. Randy Fine (R., Fla.), one of the only Jewish Republicans in Congress.
“Hamas still holds hostages, fires rockets, and indoctrinates children with hate, yet the UK wants to hand them legitimacy?” Fine wondered. “They are delusional if it thinks recognizing a Hamas state will bring peace.”
Fine, who is known as the “Hebrew Hammer,” also floated cutting off American support to NATO while some NATO members endorse terrorism.
“Maybe Keir Starmer should open a history book and see how brilliantly appeasement worked for Neville Chamberlain,” Fine said. “London’s recognition of Hamastinia rewards Hamas and signals to Muslim extremists worldwide that bloodshed and hostage-taking are effective tools of diplomacy. America should not be expected to keep bankrolling NATO while our allies campaign to legitimize our enemies.”
Another lawmaker with harsh and direct words for “foolish left-wing policies” was Rep. Mark Harris (R., N.C.), who told the Reporter that “surrendering to Hamas and granting them Palestinian statehood is a grave mistake. The United States must continue its unwavering support of Israel, undeterred by recent foolish left-wing policies in Canada, France, and now the UK. We must see the return of the hostages, finish off Hamas, and end this war. Godspeed Israel.”
While Labour governments that govern American allies sprint to reward Islamic terrorism, lawmakers like Rep. Mark Alford (R., Mo.), told the Reporter that they acknowledge the reality that the so-called “two-state solution” is a fantasy.
“At a time when Israel is still fighting to eliminate Hamas and return the hostages both dead and alive, it is reprehensible that our allies would jeopardize that effort by recognizing Palestine as an official state,” Alford said. “The solution at this point is not a ‘two state’ solution. It is for Hamas to end this two year old war by releasing the hostages and surrendering. We stand with Israel, its right to exist, and live in peace with its neighbors.”
As congressional Republicans grapple with their plans on how to avert a government shutdown this month, the chairs of both the House Freedom Caucus and the Main Street Caucus were unified in their opposition to any recognition of “Palestine.”
“It is a grave mistake for any nation to unilaterally recognize ‘Palestine’ as a state,” Rep. Andy Harris (R., Md.), told the Reporter. “Such decisions not only reward terrorism — they undermine the security of our ally Israel and embolden violent actors like Hamas who have no interest in peace.”
And Rep. Mike Flood (R., Neb.), the Chair of the Main Street Caucus, noted that “international recognition of Palestinian statehood before Hamas is vanquished and a peace agreement is reached will only incentivize this terrorist organization to fight on, costing more lives and valuable time. I hope that our allies will reconsider their decision — we need peace to make progress.”
Rep. Clay Higgins (R., La.), a military veteran and former sheriff, laid down the law to the Reporter. “Israel will determine what happens in Israel,” Higgins said. “Allies of the United States should reject any position on Israel that is itself rejected by Israel and the United States. I advise these liberal-leaning nations to beware false prophets.”
While foreign leaders maintained without any evidence or precedent that recognizing “Palestine” would force terrorist organizations like Hamas to back down, nothing to that end has happened.
Rep. Derrick Van Orden (R., Wis.), a former Navy SEAL, told the Reporter that “the only reason” he can think that recognizing “Palestine” as a state would be “so that it can be officially recognized as a terrorist state and held internationally accountable for the horrific crimes they are responsible for.”
Another one of Van Orden’s fellow veterans, Rep. Ronny Jackson (R., Texas), told the Reporter that “countries that recognize a so-called 'Palestine' are caving to terrorists and rewriting reality to appease evil. Under President Trump, America will never betray Israel and we will never recognize a terrorist lie."
Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R., Iowa) told the Reporter that, for Republicans and the White House, a “Palestinian” state is a “non-starter.”
“Recognizing a Palestinian state while 48 hostages remain in Hamas captivity rewards terrorists, undermines peace, and sets the dangerous precedent that violence brings legitimacy,” Miller-Meeks said. “Leaders choosing this path are undermining peace efforts and failing to stop the humanitarian suffering in Gaza. Republicans in Congress and President Trump have been clear: rewarding the October 7th massacre is a non-starter.”