Austria–Palestine relations explained

Austria–Palestine relations are the bilateral relations between Austria and the State of Palestine. Austria does not fully recognize the Palestinian state declared in 1988.^[1] Yet, around the same time, Austria raised the position of the head of the Palestinian mission to the level of ambassador.

In 1973, during a conference in London, Chancellor Bruno Kreisky called for Europe to play a role in the Middle East and declared his support for the creation of a state for the Palestinians. In 1980, Austria established relations with the Palestine Liberation Organisation.

Chancellor Kreisky, who was a Jew himself, questioned Zionism as a solution to the problems faced by the Jewish people,^[2] claiming that Jews were not an ethnic group or race, but rather a religious group.

Austria supported Palestine's application to join UNESCO in 2011.^[3] It also supported Palestine's bid to obtain non-member observer status at the United Nations.^[4] In April 2013, President Mahmoud Abbas visited Austria and was welcomed with military honors. Afterward, he met with the Federal President Heinz Fischer and the National Council President Barbara Prammer.^{[5] [6]}

Notes and References

1. Austria legitimizes a PLO presence . Christian Science Monitor . 14 March 1980 .
2. Book: The Encyclopedia of the Arab-Israeli Conflict: A Political, Social, and Military History [4 volumes]: A Political, Social, and Military History . 9781851098422 . Tucker . Spencer C. . Roberts . Priscilla . 12 May 2008 .
3. Web site: The Austrian Foreign Ministry on the UNESCO vote on membership of Palestine. Außenministerium der Republik. Österreich. xn--auslandssterreicherinnen-soc.at.
4. Web site: General Assembly Votes Overwhelmingly to Accord Palestine 'Non-Member Observer State' Status in United Nations | UN Press .
5. Web site: Austrian President Heinz Fischer (L) and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas review the honour guard in Vienna April 30, 2013. REUTERS/Heinz-Peter Bader (AUSTRIA - Tags: POLITICS Stock Photo - Alamy . August 16, 2022 . August 16, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220816190150/https://www.alamy.com/austrian-president-heinz-fischer-l-and-palestinian-president-mahmoud-abbas-review-the-honour-guard-in-vienna-april-30-2013-reutersheinz-peter-bader-austria-tags-politics-image377251536.html . dead .
6. Web site: Besuch des Präsidenten der Palästinensischen Autonomiebehörde Mahmoud Abbas | Parlament Österreich .