By Shabnam Akrami ( September 29, 2025, 11:47 AM EDT) -- This week at the United Nations General Assembly, history was made. Several Western nations, including the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, France and Portugal, formally recognized the State of Palestine. France’s President Emmanuel Macron went further, declaring at the UN that recognition was not simply symbolic, but an essential step toward peace. In doing so, these countries joined the overwhelming majority of UN members — now 157 of 193 — that formally acknowledge Palestinian statehood....