For decades, he has convinced Israelis – and many people abroad – that recognition of Palestine is not a step towards peace but a concession to violence, a threat to Israel’s survival. Yet by seeking recognition, Palestinians are offering to bind themselves to treaties, laws and obligations – to act under rules rather than beyond them. Far from endangering Israel, recognition of Palestinian statehood offers the clearest path to its security. Recognition of Palestinian statehood is the corrective to this chaos. But recognition remains the necessary first step – an acknowledgment that Palestinians will remain on our land.