THE EU MUST RECOGNIZE THE PALESTINIAN STATE

Author: Javier Solana

At this point, the best way to encourage Israelis and Palestinians to return to the negotiating table is to work to level the playing field. Because the US clearly won't do that, the EU must take the lead, sending a message that is as forceful as it is necessary, by immediately recognizing the State of Palestine.

Trump’s dream scenario in which Saudi Arabia sides with Israel to pressure the Palestinians to make peace  is not going to materialize. First, Saudi Arabia is not in a position to waive Arab claims on Jerusalem. Second, a strategy that gives the Palestinians no say in their fate, and the fate of Jerusalem, will never succeed. And, third, Trump’s administration including his son-in-law Jared Kushner, to whom Trump has entrusted the US role in the Arab-Israeli peace process is staffed with businesspeople, not politicians, as Kushner himself recently pointed out. But Jerusalem, and the Israel-Palestine conflict more broadly, is far too fraught to be treated like a business deal.

The only way to get the Israelis and the Palestinians to return to the negotiating table, is to work toward a more level playing field. Here, the EU must take the lead and send a message that is as forceful as it is necessary, by immediately recognizing the State of Palestine as over 70% of UN member states have already done so.

The path toward a two-state solution should start with the Arab Peace Initiative, which stipulates that the Arab League would recognize Israel if it were to retreat into its pre-1967 borders, though an alternative, more gradual approach could be considered. The two-state solution which would allow Israel to retain its Jewish and democratic character, and should guarantee the viability of the Palestinian state still represents the most credible way out of the Arab-Israeli quagmire. But if we are to achieve the “separation because of respect” that Yitzhak Rabin envisioned in the 1990s, there is no time to lose: the point of no return is inching closer with each passing day.

Recognition of the State of Palestine

EU Member States that have not recognized the State of Palestine

Austria: The Austrian Government has not recognised the State of Palestine. Austria voted in favour of Palestine upgrade to Non-Member Observer State at UN General Assembly (29 November 2012).

Belgium: The Belgian Government has not formally recognised the State of Palestine. The Belgian Parliament has voted to recognize a Palestinian state ´at the most suitable time´ (5 February 2015). The Wallonia Regional Parliament called on the Belgian Government to recognise the state of Palestine (15 January 2015).

Croatia: Has not formally recognised the State of Palestine. However, Foreign Minister Vesna has said that Croatia is ´likely to recognize Palestine as an independent state´ (24 October 2014).

Denmark: The Danish Government has not recognised the State of Palestine.  The Foreign Minister stated that Denmark is "not ready" to support Palestine as a separate state (29 October 2014) and later that, "We are in line with the many countries who feel that this is such an important decision that we should wait to make it until we feel like it can actually affect the peace process. We don´t think that is now, but on the other hand we don´t necessarily think that we need to wait until the end of the peace process," (12 December 2014). Denmark voted in favour of Palestine upgrade to Non-Member Observer State at UN General Assembly (29 November 2012).

Estonia: Has not formally recognised the State of Palestine

Finland: Has not recognised the State of Palestine. For the Prime Minister, recognition of an independent Palestinian state is ´not on the agenda at the moment´. (7 October 2014).

France: The French Government has not recognised the State of Palestine. The National Assembly (Lower House) voted 339 to 151 to recognise the state of Palestine (2 December 2014). The Senate passed a similar motion on 11 December 2015. France voted in favour of Palestine upgrade to Non-Member Observer State at UN General Assembly (29 November 2012)

Germany: The German Government will not recognise the State of Palestine. Germany supports a two-state solution but recognises only Israe. Germany is second biggest arms supplier and arms donator to Israel after the USA (6 nuclear-capable submarines, 4 missile gunboats, tanks, munitions). Germany abstained from the vote for Palestine upgrade to Non-Member Observer State at UN General Assembly (29 November 2012).

Greece: The Greek Government has not recognised the State of Palestine. The Syriza coalition government includes Ministers who have openly supported Palestine, and one Minister who was on a successful Free Gaza Flotilla. The government may recognise the State of Palestine.

Ireland: The Irish Government has not recognised the State of Palestine. Dáil Éireann (Lower House) of the Irish Oireachtas (Parliament) passed a motion calling on the Irish Government ´to officially recognise the State of Palestine, on the basis of the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital´ (10 December 2014). Seanad Éireann (Irish Senate, Upper House) passed a similar motion on 22 October 2014 supported by all parties.

Italy: The Italian Government has not officially recognised the State of Palestine. The Italian Parliament called on the government to "sponsor the recognition of Palestine as a democratic and sovereign state within the 1967 borders and with Jerusalem as a shared capital" (27 February 2015). The government supported the motion presented by the ruling party and the Foreign Minister confirmed that he agreed with the initiative before the vote.
Italy voted in favour of Palestine upgrade to Non-Member Observer State at UN General Assembly (29 November 2012).

Latvia: Has not formally recognised the State of Palestine. The Latvian Foreign Ministry has stated that that the recognition of Palestine's statehood was not on Latvia's agenda. (December 2014).

Lithuania: Has not recognised the State of Palestine. Foreign Minister Linas Linkevičius stated that Lithuania does not agree with unilateral recognition of Palestine but supports a two-state solution (17 November 2014). Lithuania was one of 14 states that voted against Palestine's membership of UNESCO. Lithuania abstained in the UN General Assembly vote on the recognition of Palestine.

Luxembourg: Luxembourgh has not recognised the State of Palestine. Parliament: Deputies passed two motions urging its government to recognise the State of Palestine (17 December 2014). Luxembourgh voted for a draft resolution on Palestinian statehood presented by Security Council member Jordan (30 December 2015).

Netherlands: The Dutch Government has not recognised the State of Palestine. The Prime Minister stated that the Netherlands is not planning to recognize a Palestinian state for now (25 November 2014) as he did not believe this would help to restart the peace talks.

Portugal: The Government of Portugal has not recognised the State of Palestine. The Portuguese parliament passed a resolution to "recognize, in coordination with the European Union, the State of Palestine as an independent and sovereign state, in accordance with the principles of international law" (12 December 2014). Only nine members of the 230 member Assembly of the Republic voted against the resolution.

Slovenia: Government:has not recognised the State of Palestine. The Slovenian Foreign Policy Committee called on the government to submit to Parliament a decree on the recognition of an independent Palestine (28 November 2014). Most parties support an independent Palestine.

Spain: The Government of Spain has not recognised the State of Palestine. The Congress of Deputies (Lower House)voted to recognise Palestine as a state with 319 votes for, 2 against, 1 abstention (18 November 2015). Spain voted in favour of Palestine upgrade to Non-Member Observer State at UN General Assembly (29 November 2012).

United Kingdom: The UK Government has not recognised the State of Palestine. House of Commons: MP's voted 274 to 12 for the Government to recognise the state of Palestine alongside the state of Israel (13 October 2014). The Scottish Parliament: Scotland's external affairs minister has said that "Palestine should be recognized as an independent state, enabling it to open its own UK embassy" (13 October 2014).

EU Member States that have recognized the State of Palestine

Bulgaria
Recognised the State of Palestine on 25 November 1988

CzechRepublic: Recognised the State of Palestine on 18 November 1988

Cyprus: Recognised the State of Palestine on 18 November 1988

Hungary: Recognised the State of Palestine on 23 November 1988

Malta: Recognised the State of Palestine on 16 November 1988

Poland: Recognised the State of Palestine on 14 December 1988

Romania: Recognised the State of Palestine on 24 November 1988

Slovakia: Recognised the State of Palestine on 18 November 1988

Sweden: Officially recognised the State of Palestine on 30 October 2014