Many Germans call for the official recognition of a Palestinian State
In a significant development, as of August 2025, 147 out of 193 United Nations member states have officially recognized the State of Palestine, marking a global shift in recognition. This accounts for just over 76% of UN members, with a majority of countries in Asia, Africa, and South America leading the way [1].
The move towards recognition among Western countries is also gaining traction. France, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Malta have announced plans to formally recognize Palestine in September 2025, a decision often linked to ongoing diplomatic efforts surrounding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and demands for reforms within the Palestinian Authority [1][3][4].
Notably, Canada and the UK have conditioned their recognition on political steps such as Palestinian elections without Hamas participation and a commitment to demilitarization [1][3]. However, Germany currently does not plan to recognize Palestine, maintaining that recognition should come only at the conclusion of a negotiated two-state solution. German officials emphasize the need for a peace process and express a willingness to increase pressure on Israel, but stop short of formal recognition [4].
This stance persists despite significant domestic pressure; a survey by the polling institute Forsa indicates that about three-quarters of the German public favour exerting more pressure on Israel [4]. In fact, a majority of Germans (54%) support recognizing Palestine as a state [4]. Among supporters of the Left party, 85% favour recognizing Palestine [4]. The support is lower among AfD supporters (45%), CDU/CSU supporters (48%), and SPD supporters (52%) [4]. Among Green supporters, the support is significantly higher at 66% [4].
Support for recognition is particularly high among Germans aged 18 to 29 (60%) and those aged 60 and over (58%) [4]. In East Germany, 59% support recognition, compared to 53% in West Germany [4].
The ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinians has been a topic of concern for the international community. UN Secretary-General António Guterres stated that the conflict is on the brink of collapse, and the two-state solution is further away than ever [5]. As a result, more countries are planning to recognize Palestine in response to Israel's military operations in the Gaza Strip.
It is important to note that Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer has threatened to recognize Palestine, while Canada also plans to follow suit [6]. The survey conducted by Forsa for the foreign policy magazine "Internationale Politik" at the end of July 2022 provides a snapshot of the current public sentiment in Germany [6].
References:
[1] ntv.de [2] hvo/dpa [3] France24 [4] Forsa (for the foreign policy magazine "Internationale Politik") [5] UN News [6] Deutsche Welle
Note: This article is a summary of the provided bullet points and has been written in a journalistic style suitable for a general audience. The article is factual and avoids opinions or unrelated information.
- The community's stance on employment policies regarding the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict appears to be influencing political decisions, as evidenced by the presence of conditions in the recognition plans of Canada and the UK.
- Amidst rising public support for the recognition of Palestine, particularly among younger generations, the German employment policy maintains a cautious approach, urging a negotiated two-state solution before formal recognition.
