European Divide Deepens Over Palestinian State Recognition

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has voiced strong reservations regarding the immediate recognition of a Palestinian state, cautioning that such a move, without the actual existence of a state, could be ‘counterproductive to the objective.’ Her comments underscore a growing divergence among European leaders on this contentious diplomatic issue.

Meloni’s stance comes just days after French President Emmanuel Macron announced France’s intention to recognize Palestinian statehood at the United Nations General Assembly in September. Macron emphasized the urgency of ending the conflict in Gaza and providing aid, stating that France, alongside international partners, seeks peace in the Middle East.

While Macron’s announcement was welcomed by Palestinian officials, it drew sharp criticism from the United States and Israel, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu labelling the decision as ‘rewarding terror’ following the October 2023 Hamas attack. The global landscape of recognition already sees 147 out of 193 UN member countries either recognizing or planning to recognize a Palestinian state, including eleven of the 27 EU members.

However, not all European nations are aligned. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has rejected immediate recognition, and a German government spokesperson recently reiterated that Berlin has no short-term plans to recognize a Palestinian state, prioritizing instead ‘long-overdue progress’ toward a two-state solution.

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