Europe is fighting for its identity. Many across the continent fear the loss of national character and feel threatened by continued illegal immigration and the spread of Islam, as was evident in the mass protest in London earlier this month. Yet its leaders choose to remain blind to reality.
This typical conduct by the continent's heads of state, most of whom identify with the left side of the political spectrum, was expressed in their rush to recognize a Palestinian state. Such a move is a reward for Hamas, which carried out the October 7 massacre and dragged the Middle East, then on the verge of expanding the Abraham Accords, with an Israeli-Saudi normalization deal on the horizon, into a war that brought justified destruction upon the Gaza Strip.
The detachment of Europe's leaders from the basic understanding of the Middle East, combined with their continued efforts to appease radicals, was illustrated in the words of British Prime Minister and Labour Party leader Keir Starmer. He explained why His Majesty's Government decided to recognize a Palestinian state. His main argument: recognition is essential for reconciliation and normalization in the Middle East and represents a rejection of extremists who oppose peace.
In response to criticism from Britain's opposition parties, the Reform Party and the Conservative Party, that recognition at this time is a reward for Hamas terrorism, Starmer replied that the step is the exact opposite of Hamas' vision. He further pledged that the Palestinian state under Mahmoud Abbas would be demilitarized and reformed, and that Hamas would play no part in its future leadership.
Despite Starmer's firm stance on Hamas, which reflects the prevailing view among many European leaders, particularly on the left, it is important to note that the Palestinian public thinks differently. In May 2025, the Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research (PCPSR), led by Prof. Khalil Shikaki, who has conducted quarterly opinion polls in the West Bank and Gaza since 1993, found that the Palestinian public clearly wants Hamas in power.
In a presidential election, a Hamas candidate would win by a sweeping 73% compared with just 27% for Abbas. In the Palestinian Legislative Council, Hamas would secure 43% compared with Fatah's 29%. The survey also highlighted widespread rejection of Abbas himself: only 15% of Palestinians are satisfied with his performance, while 80% believe he should resign.
Additional findings strengthen the claim that most Palestinians support the destruction of Israel and the killing of Jews. A majority justified the October 7 massacre (50% versus 40%), 57% opposed a two-state solution, and 41% believe armed struggle is the correct path against Israel, compared with 31% who favor negotiations. Moreover, 77% oppose disarming Hamas in exchange for ending the war. In short, the data clearly shows a complete disconnect between European naivety and Palestinian public opinion.
I would not be surprised if Starmer's declaration that no party would be permitted to participate in Palestinian elections unless it embraced nonviolent politics, signals a future effort to rehabilitate Hamas' image. By this definition, if Hamas were to claim that it accepts a Palestinian state within the 1967 borders without ending the conflict, as Khaled Mashal already declared in the "Document of General Principles and Policies" in 2017, Europe's left could well argue that Hamas is a legitimate representative of the Palestinian people with whom Israel must negotiate. European naivety regarding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict reinvents itself time and again. The Jewish state must therefore prepare for the day when voices will say that Palestinian democracy, even if it chooses terror and violence, is something Israel must respect.
