On Sunday, Britain, Canada, Australia and Portugal formally recognized Palestinian statehood in what they described as an effort to revive prospects for a two-state solution. The move has sparked strong opposition from Israel and marked a divergence from the United States, which has long opposed unilateral recognition of Palestinian statehood, Xinhua news agency reported. For many Palestinians, however, such developments raise a pressing question: Will international gestures translate into real change on the ground -- or remain largely symbolic? "We need real change that people can feel, not just political statements," he told Xinhua. If we do not have a strong presence in the West Bank and Gaza, recognitions will remain largely symbolic."