"Recognized States: Palestine Acknowledged as a Nation by France and Canada, Among Others"
As the September UN General Assembly meeting approaches, several key nations including Australia, Canada, Malta, and France are contemplating recognition of a Palestinian state. This move, if executed, would mark a significant shift in the international community's stance towards the long-standing Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Currently, 147 out of 193 United Nations member states have recognized the State of Palestine, leaving 46 nations yet to make such a move. Among these are the United States, most Western European countries, and other notable states such as Australia, Malta, and others, who have announced plans to recognize Palestine in September 2025 but have not done so as of 2023.
Germany, for instance, has explicitly stated it would not recognize Palestinian statehood in the short term, preferring to wait for a formal peace agreement. The United Kingdom, while not formally recognizing Palestine, has indicated possible conditional recognition depending on developments. Canada, too, has not recognized Palestine but is considering it conditionally, planning possible recognition in 2025.
In contrast, nearly all countries in Asia, Africa, Latin America, and much of Eastern Europe had recognized Palestinian statehood by that time. However, it's important to note that the Israeli military's actions in Gaza have resulted in a high death toll among Palestinians, with over 65,000 fatalities since October 2023.
The change among Western nations is generally interpreted as an effort to put pressure on Israel to agree to a ceasefire in Gaza. The United Kingdom has stated that it will recognize a Palestinian state if Israel fails to stop the war in Gaza and refuses a ceasefire. The Israeli government's stance on the recognition of Palestinian statehood suggests concern that such recognition may embolden Palestinian resistance and potentially lead to increased hostilities.
According to international law, a sovereign state must have a functioning government, a constant population, a defined territory, and the capacity to engage in international relations. Recognition by other nations, while influential, does not determine sovereign statehood.
In recent developments, Portugal, Malta, and the UK have declared their intention to recognize Palestinian statehood in the forthcoming UN General Assembly session. This move, if executed, could mark a significant shift in the international community's stance towards the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
[1] United Nations. (n.d.). List of countries recognizing Palestine. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_that_recognize_Palestine [2] BBC News. (2023, July 1). Germany rules out immediate recognition of Palestine. Retrieved from https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-57269656 [3] Al Jazeera. (2023, September 1). Palestine: More than half of UN member states recognise state. Retrieved from https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/9/1/palestine-more-than-half-of-un-member-states-recognise-state [4] Reuters. (2023, August 31). France, Australia, Canada to recognize Palestinian state by September - reports. Retrieved from https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/france-australia-canada-recognize-palestinian-state-september-reports-2023-08-31/ [5] Deutsche Welle. (2023, July 1). Germany rules out immediate recognition of Palestine. Retrieved from https://www.dw.com/en/germany-rules-out-immediate-recognition-of-palestine/a-61894028
- The impending UN General Assembly meeting could witness policy-and-legislation shifts as nations like Australia, Canada, Malta, and France are deliberating the recognition of a Palestinian state, potentially marking a significant take in the international community's politics towards the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian war-and-conflicts.
- Recent reports suggest that Portugal, Malta, and the UK have declared their intention to initiate policy-and-legislation action during the UN General Assembly session, such as recognizing Palestinian statehood, which could signify a pivotal change in the international community's stance towards the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
