Leaders from Spain, Ireland, Slovenia, and Malta have expressed their readiness to recognize the State of Palestine as a crucial step towards achieving peace and security in the war-torn region. In a joint statement, the leaders emphasized the importance of a two-state solution, with both Israeli and Palestinian states coexisting peacefully.
Currently, nine of the EU’s 27 member states recognize the State of Palestine based on the 1967 borders. Malta, along with other eastern European states, has acknowledged Palestinian statehood since 1988. However, the EU as a whole has not yet fully supported the recognition of a Palestinian state.
Both Ireland and Spain, in particular, have been vocal in their support for recognizing Palestine, with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez making it a priority in his foreign policy agenda. Irish Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has also indicated that talks are underway among member states to formalize the recognition of Palestine to facilitate more equal negotiations in the future.
The European Union has traditionally backed the two-state solution and is a major donor of aid to Palestinians. However, formal recognition of a Palestinian state by all EU member states has not been achieved. The leaders’ announcement at the Brussels summit signifies a united front in support of Palestinian statehood as a means of promoting lasting peace and stability in the region.
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