5 European Countries Recognizing Palestine Independence

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Israel's atrocities in Gaza, Palestine have divided Europe into two camps. Israel's attack on refugee tents in Rafah has further diminished the favorability of the Zionist state.

Several European leaders have even declared their willingness to acknowledge Palestinian sovereignty. Spearheaded by Spain and Ireland, these two nations are reportedly capable of bolstering the position of the European Union (EU) in order to prevent Israeli transgressions against Palestinians. 

The initiatives undertaken by these two nations have been subsequently followed by other European countries. Reporting from various sources, here are 5 European countries that are ready to recognize the independence of Palestine:

1. Spain

In November 2023, Spanish Prime Minister (PM), Pedro Sánchez vowed that his new government would prioritize the recognition of Palestine in its foreign policy. Following a summit in Brussels on Friday, May 17, Sánchez stated that Spain preferred to act in unison with other EU countries rather than unilaterally acknowledging a Palestinian state.

“We want to take this step united. It's a decisive step in order to lay the foundations of a lasting peace,” he said.

He also argued that the leaders of Spain, Ireland, Slovenia, and Malta represent all sides of the political spectrum so that there is a broad political consensus that the recognition of Palestine is necessary for any prospective peace process.

2. Ireland

In February 2024, Irish PM Taoiseach Leo Varadkar emphasized that while South Africa's genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice was "on the agenda", the recognition of Palestine as a state was also being discussed.

Varadkar also said, “a number of EU states acting together to recognize Palestine could enable a more equal negotiation to happen after the war has ended in Gaza around a two-state solution.”

He remarked that opinions on the Gaza conflict are varied. Additionally, countries approach the issue of Israel and Palestine through the lens of their own national histories.

3. Slovenia

Slovenian Prime Minister Robert Golob expressed his belief that substantial strides can be made "in the upcoming week" to fortify political backing for Palestine at the UN. Golob also opined that the conditions are ripe for the establishment of a new Palestinian government, which could materialize within a few weeks or a month.

4. Malta

Along with eastern European countries (Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Romania, and Slovakia), Malta has also recognized the right of Palestinians to statehood since 1988 but has not implemented it. Maltese PM Robert Abela has expressed his readiness to declare Palestine a state. Furthermore, the nation has long advocated for a two-state solution to engender peace in the Middle East.

5. France

French President Emmanuel Macron urged Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas to make necessary reforms. He stressed France's commitment to building a vision of peace with European and Arab partners. He also offered security guarantees and the prospect of recognizing the state of Palestine as part of a meaningful process.

“France supports a reformed and strengthened Palestinian Authority, able to carry out its responsibilities throughout the Palestinian territories, including in the Gaza Strip, for the benefit of the Palestinian people”, Macron told Abbas on Wednesday, May 29, as reported by lemonde.fr.

Macron decried civilian casualties as "intolerable" and extended his "sincere condolences to the Palestinian people" for the bombing by Israeli forces of a camp for displaced people in Rafah in southern Gaza.

RACHEL FARAHDIBA R | TIM TEMPO.CO

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