Countries to Grant Recognition to the State of Palestine in September
The international community is witnessing a significant shift in the recognition of the State of Palestine, with several countries preparing to join the movement. This change is expected to be a key focus during the upcoming United Nations General Assembly, scheduled for September 9 in New York.
Following a UN conference for a two-state solution on July 28, 15 Western countries, including France, Canada, Australia, Malta, Portugal, and the United Kingdom, called upon the international community to recognize the Palestinian State. While some of these countries, such as Canada and the UK, have made their recognition conditional on certain developments, they have announced their intention to formally recognize Palestine, potentially during or soon after the UN General Assembly.
In addition to these countries, more European nations such as Ireland, Spain, Slovenia, Norway, and Armenia recognized Palestinian statehood in 2024. This momentum has continued leading up to and around September 2023, with nearly 150 UN member states recognizing Palestine as a sovereign state as of 2024–2025.
However, some significant Western countries, such as the United States, Germany, Italy, Japan, South Korea, and others, have not yet recognized Palestine. Germany has explicitly stated that it would not recognize Palestine before the conclusion of a negotiated two-state solution.
The Israeli-Palestinian conflict continues to be a significant issue, with violence in the West Bank growing and a severe humanitarian crisis in Gaza ongoing, caused by the Israeli army's response to Hamas attacks on October 7, 2023. The Palestinian Authority has assured the Australian government that no place will be given to Hamas terrorists in any future Palestinian state.
The Palestinian Authority's assurance comes as Australia, like many other countries, is leaning towards recognizing the right of the Palestinian people to a state of their own. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has declared that peace can only be temporary until Israelis and Palestinians have their own states.
Notably, Poland, Bulgaria, and Romania recognized the State of Palestine before joining the EU in 1988. Sweden recognized the State of Palestine in 2014, earning strained relations with Israel.
As the world awaits the decisions of various countries during the UN General Assembly, it is clear that the recognition of Palestine is gaining momentum, with more countries prepared to join the movement. The hope is that this recognition will lead to a peaceful resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the establishment of two independent and viable states living side by side in peace and security.
[1] BBC News. (2023, September 1). UN General Assembly 2023: What's on the agenda? [online] Available at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-54139519
[2] Reuters. (2023, September 1). More countries may recognize Palestine at UN General Assembly - analysts [online] Available at: https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/more-countries-may-recognize-palestine-un-general-assembly-analysts-2023-09-01/
[3] Middle East Monitor. (2023, September 1). 145 UN member states recognise Palestine as a state [online] Available at: https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230901-145-un-member-states-recognise-palestine-as-a-state/
[4] Al Jazeera. (2023, September 1). Canada, UK may recognise Palestine at UN General Assembly [online] Available at: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/9/1/canada-uk-may-recognise-palestine-at-un-general-assembly
- With the upcoming United Nations General Assembly scheduled for September 9 in New York, politics surrounding war-and-conflicts such as the Israeli-Palestinian issue will likely be a key topic of discussion, as several countries prepare to formally recognize Palestine.
- General news outlets have reported that more European countries like Ireland, Spain, Slovenia, Norway, and Armenia have recognized Palestinian statehood in recent years, and the momentum is expected to continue leading up to the UN General Assembly, potentially influencing other nations to follow suit.
