Palestine and the modern Commonwealth: past engagements and future membership?

Abstract

ABSTRACT All Commonwealth summit communiqués from the late 1960s through to the mid-1990s maintained a focus on the Palestinian conflict and highlighted approaches that could lead to its just resolution. Whilst pressure peaked in the late 1970s and 1980s, the most significant issue – potential Palestinian membership – arose only in 1997. A decision was deferred and Palestine has not been mentioned in summit communiqués since. Continued disengagement has dovetailed with a time-shrunken summit and resource-depleted Commonwealth Secretariat. Nevertheless, the Commonwealth can and should re-engage by providing a realistic roadmap (including Secretariat support) for Palestinian membership that benchmarks internal standards but is not dependent on Israeli or similar factors outside the Palestinian Authority’s direct control.