As of June 2024, the State of Palestine is recognized as a sovereign state by of the 193 member states of the United Nations, or just over 75% of all UN members. It has been a non-member observer state of the United Nations General Assembly since November 2012.[1] [2] This limited status is largely due to the fact that the United States, a permanent member of the UN Security Council with veto power, has consistently used its veto or threatened to do so to block Palestine's full UN membership.[3] [4]
The State of Palestine had been officially declared by the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) on 15 November 1988, claiming sovereignty over the internationally recognized Palestinian territories: the West Bank, which includes East Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip. By the end of 1988, the Palestinian state was recognized by 78 countries.[5]
In an attempt to solve the decades-long Israeli–Palestinian conflict, the Oslo Accords were signed between Israel and the PLO in 1993 and 1995, creating the Palestinian Authority (PA) as a self-governing interim administration in the Gaza Strip and around 40% of the West Bank.[6] After the assassination of Yitzhak Rabin and Benjamin Netanyahu's ascension to power, negotiations between Israel and the PA stalled, which led the Palestinians to pursue international recognition of the State of Palestine without Israeli acquiescence.
In 2011, the State of Palestine was admitted into UNESCO; in 2012, after it was accepted as an observer state of the United Nations General Assembly with the votes of 138 member states of the United Nations, the PA began to officially use the name "State of Palestine" for all purposes.
Among the G20, nine countries (Argentina, Brazil, China, India, Indonesia, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, and Turkey, as well as permanent invitee Spain) have recognized Palestine as a state, while ten countries (Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Mexico, South Korea, the United Kingdom, and the United States) have not. Although these countries generally support some form of a two-state solution to the conflict, they take the position that their recognition of a Palestinian state is conditioned to direct negotiations between Israel and the PA.
On 22 November 1974, United Nations General Assembly Resolution 3236 recognised the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination, national independence and sovereignty in Palestine. It also recognised the PLO as the sole legitimate representative of the Palestinian people, and accorded it observer status in the United Nations. The designation "Palestine" for the PLO was adopted by the United Nations in 1988 in acknowledgment of the Palestinian declaration of independence, but the proclaimed state still has no formal status within the system.
Shortly after the 1988 declaration, the State of Palestine was recognised by many developing states in Africa and Asia, and from communist and non-aligned states.[7] [8] At the time, however, the United States was using its Foreign Assistance Act and other measures to discourage other countries and international organisations from extending recognition.[9] Although these measures were successful in many cases,[10] the Arab League and the Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC) immediately published statements of recognition of, support for, and solidarity with Palestine, which was accepted as a member state in both forums.[11] [12] [13]
In February 1989 at the United Nations Security Council, the PLO representative acknowledged that 94 states had recognised the new Palestinian state.[14] [15] It subsequently attempted to gain membership as a state in several agencies connected to the United Nations, but its efforts faced threats from the U.S. that it would withhold funding from any organisation that admitted Palestine.[16] For example, in April of the same year, the PLO applied for membership as a state in the World Health Organization, an application that failed to produce a result after the U.S. informed the organisation that it would withdraw funding if Palestine were admitted.[17] In May, a group of OIC members submitted to UNESCO an application for membership on behalf of Palestine, and listed a total of 91 states that had recognised the State of Palestine.[18]
In June 1989, the PLO submitted to the government of Switzerland letters of accession to the Geneva Conventions of 1949. However, Switzerland, as the depositary state, determined that because the question of Palestinian statehood had not been settled within the international community, it was therefore incapable of determining whether the letter constituted a valid instrument of accession.[17]
Due to the [uncertainty] within the international community as to the existence or the non-existence of a State of Palestine and as long as the issue has not been settled in an appropriate framework, the Swiss Government, in its capacity as depositary of the Geneva Conventions and their additional Protocols, is not in a position to decide whether this communication can be considered as an instrument of accession in the sense of the relevant provisions of the Conventions and their additional Protocols.[19]
Consequently, in November 1989, the Arab League proposed a General Assembly resolution to formally recognise the PLO as the government of an independent Palestinian state. The draft, however, was abandoned when the U.S. again threatened to cut off its financing for the United Nations should the vote go ahead. The Arab states agreed not to press the resolution, but demanded that the U.S. promise not to threaten the United Nations with financial sanctions again.[20]
Many of the early statements of recognition of the State of Palestine were termed ambiguously.[21] In addition, hesitation from others did not necessarily mean that these nations did not regard Palestine as a state.[17] This has seemingly resulted in confusion regarding the number of states that have officially recognized the state declared in 1988. Numbers reported in the past are often conflicting,[22] with figures as high as 130 being seen frequently.[10] [23] In July 2011, in an interview with Haaretz, Palestinian ambassador to the United Nations, Riyad Mansour claimed that 122 states had so far extended formal recognition.[24] At the end of the month, the PLO published a paper on why the world's governments should recognize the State of Palestine and listed the 122 countries that had already done so.[25] By the end of September the same year, Mansour claimed the figure had reached 139.[26]
Between the end of the Six-Day War and the Oslo Accords, no Israeli government proposed a Palestinian state. During Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government of 1996–1999, he accused the two previous governments of Rabin and Peres of bringing closer to realisation what he claimed to be the "danger" of a Palestinian state, and stated that his main policy goal was to ensure that the Palestinian Authority did not evolve beyond an autonomy.[27]
In June 2003, Ariel Sharon was the first Israeli Prime Minister to proclaim that a Palestinian state was a possibility. Sharon addressed "the possibility of the establishment of a Palestinian state with temporary borders, if conditions permit" and claimed that interim Palestinian state would be "completely demilitarised, and this nation will be the home of the Palestinian diaspora and Palestinian refugees will not be allowed into Israeli territory."[28]
The government headed by Ehud Olmert repeated the same objective. Following the inauguration of the Netanyahu government in 2009, the government again claimed that a Palestinian state posed a danger for Israel.[29] The government position changed, however, following American pressure from the Obama administration, and on 14 June 2009, Netanyahu for the first time made a speech in which he supported the notion of a demilitarized and territorially reduced Palestinian state.[30] This position met some criticism for its lack of commitment on the territories to be ceded to the Palestinian state in the future. Netanyahu in February 2023 said "I'm certainly willing to have them have all the powers that they need to govern themselves, but none of the powers that can threaten us, and this means that Israel should have the overriding security responsibility."[31]
Israel has refused to accept the 1967 borders, which Israeli military experts have argued are strategically indefensible.[32] It also opposes the Palestinian plan of approaching the UN General Assembly on the matter of statehood, as it claims it does not honor the Oslo Accords agreement in which both sides agreed not to pursue unilateral moves.[33]
See main article: Palestine 194. After a two-year impasse in negotiations with Israel, the Palestinian Authority began a diplomatic campaign to gain recognition for the State of Palestine on the borders prior to the Six-Day War, with East Jerusalem as its capital.[41] The efforts, which began in late 2009, gained widespread attention in September 2011, when President Mahmoud Abbas submitted an application to the United Nations to accept Palestine as a member state. This would have constituted collective recognition of the State of Palestine, which would have allowed its government to pursue legal claims against other states in international courts.[42] [43]
In order for a state to gain membership in the General Assembly, its application must have the support of two-thirds of member states with a prior recommendation for admission from the Security Council. This requires the absence of a veto from any of the Security Council's five permanent members. At the prospect of a veto from the United States, Palestinian leaders signalled that they might opt instead for a more limited upgrade to "non-member state" status, which requires only a simple majority in the General Assembly but provides the Palestinians with the recognition they desired.
The campaign, dubbed "Palestine 194",[44] was supported by the Arab League in May,[45] and was officially confirmed by the PLO on 26 June.[46] The decision was labelled by the Israeli government as a unilateral step, while the Palestinian government countered that it was essential to overcoming the current impasse. Several other countries—such as Germany and Canada—also denounced the decision and called for a prompt return to negotiations. However, many others—such as Norway and Russia—endorsed the plan, as did Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, who stated: "UN members are entitled whether to vote for or against the Palestinian statehood recognition at the UN."[47]
Diplomatic efforts to gain support for the bid gained momentum following a succession of endorsements from South America in early 2011.[48] High-level delegations led by Yasser Abed Rabbo, Riyad al-Maliki, Saeb Erekat, Nabil Shaath and Riyad Mansour paid visits to many states. Palestinian ambassadors, assisted by those of other Arab states, were charged with enlisting the support of the governments to which they were accredited.[48] During the lead-up to the vote, Russia, China, and Spain publicly pledged their support for the Palestinian bid,[49] [50] as did inter-governmental organisations such as the African Union,[51] and the Non-Aligned Movement.[52]
Israel took steps to counter the initiative,[53] and Germany, Italy, Canada and the U.S. announced publicly that they would vote against the resolution. Israeli and U.S. diplomats began a campaign pressuring many countries to oppose or abstain from the vote. However, because of the "automatic majority" enjoyed by the Palestinians in the General Assembly,[54] the Netanyahu administration stated that it did not expect to prevent a resolution from passing should it go ahead.[53] [55] In August, Haaretz quoted the Israeli ambassador to the United Nations, Ron Prosor, as stating that Israel would be unable to block a resolution at the General Assembly by September. "The maximum that we can hope to gain is for a group of states who will abstain or be absent during the vote", wrote Prosor. "Only a few countries will vote against the Palestinian initiative."[56]
Instead, the Israeli government focused on obtaining a "moral majority" of major democratic powers, in an attempt to diminish the weight of the vote.[57] [58] Considerable weight was placed on the position of the European Union, which had not yet been announced. EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton stated that it was likely to depend on the wording of the resolution.[59] At the end of August, Israel's defence minister Ehud Barak said that "it is very important that all the players come up with a text that will emphasize the quick return to negotiations, without an effort to impose pre-conditions on the sides."[60]
Efforts from both Israel and the U.S. also focused on pressuring the Palestinian leadership to abandon its plans and return to negotiations.[61] In the U.S., Congress passed a bill denouncing the initiative and calling on the Obama administration to veto any resolution that would recognize a Palestinian state declared outside of an agreement negotiated by the two parties.[62] A similar bill was passed in the Senate, which also threatened a withdrawal of aid to the West Bank.[63] [64] In late August, another congressional bill was introduced which proposes to block U.S. government funding for United Nations entities that support Palestinian membership in the UN.[65] Several top U.S. officials, including ambassador to the United Nations Susan Rice and consul-general in Jerusalem Daniel Rubinstein, made similar threats.[66] [67] In the same month, it was reported that the Israeli Ministry of Finance was withholding its monthly payments to the PNA.[68] Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman warned that if Palestine took unilateral action, Israel would consider the Oslo Accords null and void, and would break off relations with the PA.[60]
On 11 July 2011, the Quartet met to discuss a return to negotiations, but the meeting produced no result.[69] President Mahmoud Abbas claimed that he would suspend the bid and return to negotiations if the Israelis agreed to the 1967 borders and ceased the expansion of settlements in the West Bank.
The PNA's campaign saw an increasing level of support in grass-roots activism. Avaaz began an online petition urging all United Nations members to endorse the bid to admit Palestine; it reportedly attained 500,000 e-signatures in its first four days.[70] OneVoice Palestine launched a domestic campaign in partnership with local news agencies, with the aim of getting the involvement and support of Palestinian citizens.[71] Overseas, campaigns were launched in several nations, calling on their governments to vote "yes" in the resolution.[72] [73] On 7 September, a group of Palestinian activists under the banner "Palestine: State No. 194" staged a demonstration outside the United Nations' office in Ramallah.[74] During the demonstration, they submitted to the office a letter addressed to Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, urging him to "exert all possible efforts toward the achievement of the Palestinian people's just demands". The following day, Ban told reporters: "I support ... the statehood of Palestinians; an independent, sovereign state of Palestine. It has been long overdue", but he also stated that "recognition of a state is something to be determined by the member states."[75]
Other United Nations organs had previously expressed readiness to see a Palestinian state. In April 2011, the UN's co-ordinator for the Middle East peace process issued a report on the Palestinian Authority's state-building progress, describing "aspects of its administration as sufficient for an independent state".[76] It echoed a similar assessment published the week prior by the International Monetary Fund.[77] The World Bank released a report in September 2010 that found the Palestinian Authority "well-positioned to establish a state" at any point in the near future. However, the report highlighted that, unless private-sector growth in the Palestinian economy was stimulated, a Palestinian state would remain donor dependent.[78]
| United Nations Security Council Resolution Vote on Recommendation to the United Nations General Assembly that Membership Admission in the United Nations for Palestine (State of Palestine)[79] [80] Date: 18 April 2024 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| width=33% | In favour (12) | width=33% | Abstentions (2) | width=33% | Against (1) |
| D, ,, ,,, P,, ,,, | ,  United Kingdom |  United StatesV | |||
During September 2012, Palestine decided to pursue an upgrade in status from "observer entity" to "non-member observer state". On 27 November of the same year, it was announced that the appeal had been made officially and would be put to a vote in the General Assembly on 29 November, where the status upgrade was expected to be supported by a majority of states. In addition to granting Palestine "non-member observer state status", the draft resolution "expresses the hope that the Security Council will consider favorably the application submitted on 23 September 2011 by the State of Palestine for admission to full membership in the United Nations, endorses the two state solution based on the pre-1967 borders, and stresses the need for an immediate resumption of negotiations between the two parties."
On 29 November 2012, in a 138–9 vote (with 41 abstaining) General Assembly resolution 67/19 passed, upgrading Palestine to "non-member observer state" status in the United Nations.[81] [82] The new status equated Palestine's with that of the Holy See. The change in status was described by The Independent as "de facto recognition of the sovereign state of Palestine".[83] Voting "no" were Israel, Canada, the Czech Republic, the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, Nauru, Palau, Panama and the United States.
The vote was an important benchmark for the partially recognized State of Palestine and its citizens, while it was a diplomatic setback for Israel and the United States. Status as an observer state in the UN allows the State of Palestine to join treaties and specialized UN agencies,[84] the Law of the Seas treaty, and the International Criminal Court. It permits Palestine to pursue legal rights over its territorial waters and air space as a sovereign state recognized by the UN, and allows the Palestinian people the right to sue for sovereignty over their territory in the International Court of Justice and to bring "crimes against humanity" and war-crimes charges, including that of unlawfully occupying the territory of State of Palestine, against Israel in the International Criminal Court.[85] [86]
The UN has, after the resolution was passed, permitted Palestine to title its representative office to the UN as "The Permanent Observer Mission of the State of Palestine to the United Nations",[87] seen by many as a reflection of the UN's de facto position of recognizing the State of Palestine's sovereignty under international law,[81] and Palestine started to re-title its name accordingly on postal stamps, official documents and passports.[82] [88] The Palestinian authorities also instructed its diplomats to officially represent the "State of Palestine", as opposed to the "Palestine National Authority". Additionally, on 17 December 2012, UN Chief of Protocol Yeocheol Yoon decided that "the designation of "State of Palestine" shall be used by the Secretariat in all official United Nations documents", recognizing the "State of Palestine" as the official name of the Palestinian nation.
On 26 September 2013 at the United Nations, Mahmoud Abbas was given the right to sit in the General Assembly's beige chair which is reserved for heads of state waiting to take the podium and address the General Assembly.[89]
The effort to secure full UN membership was renewed in 2024 during the Israel–Hamas war,[90] with the United Nations Security Council holding a vote on the topic in April.[91] While the vote was 12 in favor, two abstentions, and one vote against, the United States vetoed the measure so it did not pass.[92]
On 10 May 2024, the UN General Assembly passed a resolution that recognized that Palestine met the requirements for UN membership, and requested that the Security Council reconsider admitting the state. It also granted Palestine additional rights at the UN, including being seated with member states, the right to introduce proposals and agenda items, and participate in committees, but did not grant them the right to vote.[93] [94]
145 of the 193 United Nations (UN) member states have recognized the State of Palestine.[95]
| Name | Date of recognition | Diplomatic relations | Relevant membership, further details | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AU | ||||
| [120] | —; Palestine–Vatican City relations |
| Name | Official position | Relations | Relevant memberships | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| In January 2011, Andorra co-sponsored a draft resolution guaranteeing the Palestinian people's right to self-determination.[121] In September, it argued for a proposed resolution to give the State of Palestine observer status in the United Nations.[122] | No | |||
| Australian policy calls for a two-state solution, but it has not supported calls toward Palestinian statehood in the past, insisting instead on a negotiated settlement. In regards to a resolution to admit Palestine as a UN non-member observer state, a division in positions emerged: Former Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd recommended abstaining from the vote, whilst former Prime Minister Julia Gillard declared strong support for Israel.[123] In response, Gillard noted: "There isn't a resolution available for people to read or respond to. If such a resolution does hit the deck, then in deciding how Australia will vote, we will bring our very long-standing principles about questions in the Middle East. That is, we are long-standing supporters of a two-state solution."[124] In 2014, Australia voted against a United Nations Security Council draft resolution proposing the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza and the West Bank by 2017.[125] In April 2021, the Australian Labor Party (Rudd and Gillard's party) passed an amendment to its policy platform recognising Palestine as a state.[126] | Yes | G20 | ||
| Austria conferred full diplomatic status on the PLO representation in Vienna on 13 December 1978, under then-chancellor Bruno Kreisky.[127] In June 2011, Foreign Minister Michael Spindelegger said that Austria "had not yet made up its mind whether to support a UN recognition of a Palestinian state", adding that he preferred to wait for a joint EU approach to the issue. "We will decide at the last moment because it might still give [the two parties] the opportunity to bring the Middle East peace process back on track."[128] Spindelegger also suggested that the EU draft its own version of the resolution.[129] | Yes[130] | EU, PIF | ||
| On the issue of Palestinian statehood, Belgium supports a joint position within the European Union.[131] In 2011, Prime Minister Yves Leterme called for a European consensus, while the Senate urged the government to recognize a Palestinian state with pre-1967 borders.[132] The Chamber of Representatives adopted a similar position on 5 February 2015. The left-wing opposition called for unconditional recognition of Palestine.[133] [134] Despite these declarations, Belgium hasn't recognized the State of Palestine yet. In May 2024, Foreign Minister Hadja Lahbib stated that recognition was not up for discussion, but it wouldn't be granted at the time,[135] while Prime Minister Alexander De Croo stressed that recognition was "symbolic" and wouldn't have "any impact in the field".[136] | Yes | EU, NATO | ||
| Cameroon officially supports a two-state solution.[137] Although a member of the OIC, President Paul Biya has developed strong ties with Israel since the mid-1980s.[138] This perceived friendship has soured the country's traditionally close ties with Arab states, many of whom have withdrawn longstanding economic development assistance and pressed Biya to support Palestinian interests.[139] Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu asked Biya to oppose the United Nations resolution that would admit Palestine as a member state.[140] | Yes | AU, OIC | ||
| Canada supports the creation of a sovereign Palestinian state, but only as part of a "comprehensive, just and lasting peace settlement".[141] The Harper government (2006–2015) was regarded as a staunch supporter of Israel. In July 2011, the spokesman for Foreign Minister John Baird stated, "Our government's long-standing position has not changed. The only solution to this conflict is one negotiated between and agreed to by the two parties. ... One of the states must be a Jewish state and recognized as such, while the Palestinian state is to be a non-militarized one".[142] | Yes | G7, G20, NATO, OAS | ||
| Croatia formalized relations with the PLO on 31 March 2011. Former Croatian Prime Minister Jadranka Kosor stated in 2011 that her government supported the co-existence of Israel and Palestine as two independent states,[143] however Croatia abstained during voting on upgrading Palestine to non-member observer state status in the United Nations and on admission of Palestine to UNESCO. Former Croatian Foreign Minister Vesna Pusić stated on 24 October 2014 that "Croatia will most likely recognize Palestine soon".[144] The Croatian government tends to favour Israel over Palestine as a commitment to the United States, to whom Croatia is aligned, and the central quarters of the European Union of which Croatia has been a member since 2013. Croatia believes that if it were to recognize Palestine, this would frustrate its position with the EU and ties to the US, and also because the situation in the Middle East is complicated it feels there is no guarantee that there would be peace and further existence of the Jewish state if Israel eventually decides to withdraw from the occupied territories.[145] | Yes | EU, NATO | ||
 Czech Republic | Czechoslovakia officially recognised Palestine on 18 November 1988 and this act was carried over to its legal successor the Czech Republic. However, already in the 2010s, the Czech government began questioning their continuing recognition,[146] [147] arguing that no Palestinian entity fulfilled the criteria of an independent state[148] and stating that it would be open to recognizing a Palestinian state in the future.[149] Nevertheless, Czechia has never formally withdrawn its 1988 recognition, and as of 2024, the Czech government and the State of Palestine continue to maintain diplomatic relations.[150] | Yes | EU, NATO | |
| Danish Foreign Minister Lene Espersen met Abbas on 9 March 2011 to persuade him to return to negotiating with Israel. Espersen also extended Danish support to Palestinian national development.[151] During the campaign for the 2011 elections, the largest opposition party argued that Denmark should recognize the State of Palestine. Foreign Minister Lene Espersen, however, warned that such a unilateral decision could have "more negative than beneficial" consequences, and stressed the need to co-ordinate policy with the EU.[152] In December 2014, a bill that called on Denmark to recognize Palestine as a state was rejected in the Danish parliament.[153] | Yes | EU, NATO; Denmark–Palestine relations | ||
| Eritrea is one of only two African countries that does not recognise Palestine, the other being Cameroon.[154] In October 2010, President Isaias Afewerki stated, "Israel needs a government, we must respect this. The Palestinians also need to have a dignified life, but it can not be the West Bank or Gaza. A two-state solution will not work. It's just to fool people. Israelis and Palestinians living in the same nation will never happen for many reasons. One option that may work is a Transjordan. Israel may be left in peace and the Palestinian and Jordanian peoples are brought together and can create their own nation".[155] In his address to the UN General Assembly in 2011, Isaias stated that "Eritrea reaffirms its long-standing support to the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination and an independent, sovereign state. It also upholds the right of Israel to live in peace and security within internationally recognized boundaries."[156] On 29 November 2012, Eritrea voted in favour of a resolution to make Palestine non-member observer state at the UN. | Yes[157] | AU | ||
| During a meeting with Riyad al-Malki in June 2010, Minister Urmas Paet said the country approved an agreement between the two countries and "self-determination for Palestine".[158] Officials stated that the government would not adopt a position regarding the United Nations bid until the final wording of the resolution was published.[159] | Yes[160] | EU, NATO | ||
| Fijian policy on the Israeli–Palestinian conflict is largely based on United Nations resolutions.[161] | No | MSG, PIF | ||
| Finland supports a two-state solution to the conflict.[162] In October 2014, president Sauli Niinistö said that Finland would not follow Sweden's decision in recognizing the State of Palestine.[163] | Yes | EU, NATO | ||
| According to President Nicolas Sarkozy, "France supports the solution of two nation states living side-by-side in peace and security, within safe and recognized borders."[164] In May 2011, Sarkozy said that if peace talks with Israel had not resumed by September, he would recognize the State of Palestine as part of its bid at the United Nations.[165] This echoed statements made in March by Nabil Shaath, who claimed to have received a promise from France that it would recognize in September a Palestinian state on the 1967 borders.[166] According to Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, however, Sarkozy had said that France's support would require the Palestinians to recognize Israel as the state of the Jewish people. This was confirmed in July, when Foreign Minister Alain Juppé stated that any solution to the conflict would require the recognition of "the nation-state of Israel for the Jewish people, and the nation-state of Palestine for the Palestinian people."[167] This broke with the European Union's traditional position, which adamantly opposes any mention of Israel as a Jewish state.[168] Sarkozy later turned around on this policy, reportedly saying that the idea of a Jewish state was "silly".[169] In August, Sarkozy stressed the importance of a united EU position on the September initiative, and proposed a compromise where the State of Palestine would be given observer status instead of full membership. The proposal, which was to prevent a split among members of the EU, included a promise from Paris and other members that they would vote for the resolution.[170] In October 2014, France's foreign minister said France would recognize a Palestinian state even if peace talks with Israel fails.[171] On 2 December 2014 the French National Assembly approved a non-binding motion calling on the government to recognise Palestine.[172] | Yes | EU, G7, G20, NATO, UNSC (permanent) | ||
| In April 2011, Chancellor Angela Merkel labelled the Palestinian bid for recognition a "unilateral step",[173] and stated unequivocally that Germany will not recognize a Palestinian state without its prior acceptance by Israel. "Unilateral recognitions therefore definitely do not contribute to achieving this aim ... This is our stance now and it will be our stance in September. There needs to be mutual recognition, otherwise it is not a two-state solution".[174] She also reaffirmed her government's commitment to see an agreement reached as soon as possible. "We want a two-state solution. We want to recognize a Palestinian state. Let us ensure that negotiations begin. It is urgent".[175] | Yes | EU, G7, G20, NATO | ||
| President Karolos Papoulias has stated that Greece ultimately supports the creation of a Palestinian state alongside Israel.[176] Under previous governments, Greece garnered a reputation as a staunch supporter of the Palestinian cause.[177] Within the wider Arab–Israeli conflict, Andreas Papandreou maintained a stronger stand against Israel than any other government in the European Community. Diplomatic relations were founded with the PLO in 1981, while relations with Israel were maintained only at the consular level until Greece's formal recognition of Israel in 1990 under Mitsotakis.[178] Since the formation of current foreign policy under George Papandreou, Greece has seen a rapid improvement in relations with Israel,[179] leading the media to mark the conclusion of Greece's pro-Palestinian era.[180] However, in December 2015, Greece's parliament voted in favour of a motion requesting that the government recognize Palestine.[181] | Yes | EU, NATO; Greece–Palestine relations | ||
| See above | Yes | |||
| In May 2011, at an event in Rome celebrating Israel's independence, then Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi pledged his country's support to Israel.[182] In June, he reiterated Italy's position against unilateral actions on either side of the conflict, stressing that "peace can only be reached with a common initiative through negotiations".[183] This position was shared by parliamentarians, who drafted a letter to the United Nations stating that "a premature, unilateral declaration of Palestinian statehood would [...] undermine rather than resolve the Israeli–Palestinian peace process".[184] Nevertheless, at the same time, Italy upgraded the diplomatic status of the Palestinian delegation in Rome to a mission, similarly to what other EU countries were doing, giving the head of the delegation ambassadorial status.[185] Moreover, on 31 October 2011, Italy did not oppose Palestine's UNESCO membership bid[186] and, on 29 November 2012, Italy voted in favour of UN Resolution 67/19, giving Palestine a non-member observer state status at the United Nations.[187] Italy's opposition to unilateral actions was reiterated on 21 December 2017, when it voted in favour of a UN draft resolution calling on all countries to comply with Security Council resolutions regarding the status of Jerusalem,[188] following the decision by the U.S. to move its embassy to Israel from Tel Aviv to the city.[189] | Yes | EU, G7, G20, NATO; Italy–Palestine relations | ||
| Japan supports a two-state solution to the conflict,[190] and supports the establishment of a Palestinian state.[191] In October 2007, a Japanese Justice Ministry official said "Given that the Palestinian Authority has improved itself to almost a full-fledged state and issues its own passports, we have decided to accept the Palestinian nationality".[192] The Japanese government declared that it would not recognize any act that would jeopardize a Palestinian state with the pre-1967 borders nor the annexation of East Jerusalem by Israel.[193] [194] Japan voted favorably for the United Nations General Assembly resolution to accord Palestine Non-member Observer State status in the United Nations in November 2012, and since then, refers to the country as "Palestine".[195] | Yes | G7, G20 | ||
| During the summit of the Pacific Islands Forum in early September 2011, the foreign minister of Kiribati reportedly expressed support for the Palestinian position.[196] | No | PIF | ||
| Latvia supports a two-state solution to the conflict and provides development assistance to the Palestinian National Authority.[197] [198] | Yes | EU, NATO | ||
| Liechtenstein relies on Switzerland to carry out most of its foreign affairs.[199] In January 2011, it co-sponsored a draft resolution guaranteeing the Palestinian people's right to self-determination, and stated that this right must be exercised with a view to achieving a viable and fully sovereign Palestinian state.[200] | No | EFTA | ||
| Like the rest of the European Union, Lithuania supports a two-state solution including an independent Palestinian state.[201] Foreign Minister Audronius Ažubalis called for a strong, unanimous European position that encouraged both parties to resume peace talks.[202] | Yes | EU, NATO | ||
| In an interview with Foreign Minister Jean Asselborn in March 2011, The Jerusalem Post stated that Luxembourg was considered among the "least friendly" countries to Israel in the EU.[203] [204] In response to divisions within the EU regarding the Palestinians' September bid for UN membership, Asselborn reportedly urged the PNA to accept an upgrade in its observer status and not ask for membership. He insisted, "We cannot let the Palestinians leave New York at the end of the month with nothing",[205] He referred to the positions of four members in particular that stood as an obstacle to the achievement of a common position, but that he "cannot agree to say no" to the Palestinian endeavour.[206] He noted that securing the support of all EU nations would have been a great moral advantage for Palestine. In December 2019, Asselborn wrote to Josep Borrell, the head of EU foreign policy, urging a debate on recognising Palestinian statehood.[207] | Yes | EU, NATO; Luxembourg–Palestine relations | ||
| While Malta was listed as having recognized Palestine on 16 November 1988 in documents circulated by the United Nations, they only acknowledged "the right of the Palestinian people to establish a sovereign state".[208] In 2024, the government of Malta has stated that it is prepared to recognize the existence of a Palestinian state "when the circumstances are right and such recognition can make a positive contribution."[209] | Yes[210] | EU; Malta–Palestine relations | ||
| The Marshall Islands has, like the US, long been a close voting ally of Israel at the United Nations. In December 2017, the Marshall Islands was one of just nine countries (including the US and Israel) to vote against a motion adopted by the UN General Assembly condemning the United States' recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital city.[211] Additionally, it was one of only five countries (the others being Israel, the US, Micronesia and Nauru) to oppose a UN draft resolution in November 2020 on the creation of a Palestinian state.[212] | No | PIF | ||
| In November 2023, the Mexican Senate passed a resolution calling on the Mexican executive to recognize Palestine and the State of Palestine upgraded the status of its delegation in Mexico from a "Special Delegation" to a full embassy.[213] While Mexico was listed as having recognized Palestine in 2023 in documents circulated by the United Nations, the President of Mexico, Andrés Manuel López Obrador clarified in May 2024 that Mexico had not yet officially recognized the State of Palestine.[214] Mexico however maintains diplomatic relations with the State of Palestine. | Yes | G20, OAS; Mexico–Palestine relations | ||
| The Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) is a consistent supporter of Israel, especially in international resolutions,[215] though this is due in part to its association with the United States. Former FSM President Manny Mori said that the relationship goes back to 1986, when Israel made "[an] early decision to support Micronesia's membership in the UN".[216] During the summit of the Pacific Islands Forum in September 2011, the leader of the Micronesian delegation reportedly stated his country's solidarity with the Palestinian people's suffering and support for their right to self-determination. Regarding the PNA's endeavour to gain admission to the United Nations, however, the official stated that the agreements signed with the U.S. prevented the FSM from voting according to its government's wishes in cases where they conflicted with those of the U.S. In reference to Israel's continued development assistance to Micronesians, another diplomat noted, "We need Israeli expertise, so I don't see a change in our policy anytime soon." | No | PIF | ||
| Moldova maintains a policy of neutrality in international affairs. It has expressed full support for the Quartet principles for the settlement of the Israeli–Palestinian conflict, which call for an independent Palestinian state. | Yes | |||
| No | ||||
| Myanmar is one of only two Asian members of the Non-Aligned Movement that has not recognized the State of Palestine, alongside Singapore.[217] [218] Former foreign affairs minister Win Aung stated in 2000 that Myanmar supports a two-state solution within internationally recognized borders.[219] | No | ASEAN | ||
| During the Pacific Islands Forum in early September 2011, Foreign Affairs Minister Kieren Keke confirmed his nation's solidarity with the Palestinian people and their right to self-determination.[220] The PNA's foreign ministry published a statement prior to the summit claiming that most Pacific island nations would vote against a United Nations resolution regarding the Palestinian state.[221] | No | PIF | ||
| The Netherlands supports a two-state solution. The recognition of Palestine as a state is seen as contingent upon successful negotiations that ensure the security and mutual recognition of both states.[222] | Yes | EU, NATO | ||
| New Zealand supports a two-state solution to the peace process.[223] It also maintains a policy of tacit rather than explicit recognition of new states. For Palestine, this would mean upgrading its accredited delegation to a diplomatic status.[224] In early September 2011, Foreign Minister Murray McCully said that the government would not make a decision until the wording of the resolution was released. "We've got a reputation for being fair minded and even handed on this matter and all we can do is wait to see the words. He also told Riyad al-Malki that he had refused to give any pledges Israel to oppose to vote. Since 2017, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has reiterated her support for a two-state solution and opposition to settler expansions.[225] [226] | Yes | PIF | ||
| North Macedonia is one of the few countries with no political or diplomatic relations with Palestine, of any kind. Whilst he was Macedonian Foreign Minister, Nikola Poposki stated that the Macedonian position will be built in accordance with the views of the European Union and its strategic partners.[227] | No | NATO | ||
| Palau is one of four countries (alongside the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia and Nauru) that has almost always voted with the U.S. in bills at the UN. Palau, the Marshall Islands, Micronesia and the U.S. make up the Compact of Free Association,[228] which some observers have suggested amounts to "checkbook diplomacy", whereby the U.S. bought the tiny island states' votes for cash.[229] When the UN overwhelmingly voted to condemn Donald Trump's decision to recognise Jerusalem as Israel's capital and relocate the U.S. embassy there, Palau was one of only nine countries to support the move.[230] [231] | No | PIF | ||
| Panama has not indicated its position regarding a vote on statehood,[232] and is reported to be undecided on the matter.[233] President Ricardo Martinelli has a record of supporting Israel in UN resolutions,[234] and has reportedly resisted pressure from other Latin American governments to recognize Palestine.[235] The Central American Integration System (SICA) was expected to adopt a joint position on the issue at its summit on 18 August,[236] but Panama insisted that discussion should retain a regional focus and the matter was not included on the final agenda.[237] In early September, Foreign Minister Roberto Henriquez said that the government's decision would not be made public until its vote is cast, but added, "It is very important that the birth of this country and its recognition in the international forum is previously accompanied by a full peace agreement with its neighbour, Israel."[238] On 4 July 2015, Panama's Vice President and Foreign Minister Isabel De Saint Malo de Alvarado said that her government is looking at ways to recognize the State of Palestine without affecting their "close relationship" with Israel.[239] | No | OAS | ||
| In February 2011, several parliamentary factions proposed resolutions calling on the government to recognize the State of Palestine.[240] However, these were dismissed by the two majority parties, which insisted on a prior settlement acceptable to both Palestinians and Israelis.[241] Foreign Minister Paulo Portas stated that Portugal supports the initiative to recognize Palestine, but that it must not forget the security of Israel: "We will do everything for Palestine, which deserves to have its state, and do nothing against Israel, which deserves to have its security."[242] In December 2014, the Portuguese Parliament passed a resolution that is non-binding calling on the government to recognize Palestine as an independent state with 9 of 230 members opposing the measure.[243] | Yes | EU, NATO | ||
| In 2010, Prime Minister Tuilaʻepa Saʻilele Malielegaoi expressed support for a two-state solution to the conflict.[244] | No | PIF | ||
| No | ||||
| Singapore has not recognized the State of Palestine and has not announced a position regarding a resolution.[245] The island state has a strong relationship with Israel.[246] However, Singapore established a representative office in Ramallah as a move to improve coordination of capacity-building initiatives and fortify relations with the Palestinian National Authority.[247] [248] In July 2024, Foreign Minister Balakrishnan stated that Singapore could recognize the State of Palestine if it in turn accepted the right to exist of Israel.[249] | Yes[250] | ASEAN | ||
| Foreign Minister Peter Shannel Agovaka met Riyad al-Malki in early September at the summit of the Pacific Islands Forum in Wellington. Agovaka reportedly confirmed his government's support of Palestinian efforts at the United Nations, and that possible recognition of the State of Palestine would be considered in the next cabinet meeting. | No | PIF | ||
| The government of South Korea does not recognize the State of Palestine; however, it has a representative office in Ramallah.[251] | Yes | G20 | ||
| Switzerland does not recognize Palestine as an independent state but voted in favor of granting it a non-member observer status at the UN in November 2014. Swiss President Simonetta Sommaruga voiced her support for a two-state solution, saying "Switzerland has worked for years for a solution to the conflict between Israel and Palestine. Our aim is to achieve peace."[252] | Yes | EFTA | ||
| In September 2011, following the summit of the Pacific Islands Forum in Wellington, the PNA's foreign ministry noted that it had made significant strides in its efforts to attain recognition from Tonga. | No | PIF | ||
| On 10 September 2015, the United Nations General Assembly passed a Palestinian resolution to allow its flag to fly in front of the United Nations headquarters in New York. The vote was passed with 119 votes in support, 8 opposing, and 45 abstentions. Tuvalu was one of the eight opposing votes.[253] | No | PIF | ||
| In September 2011, the UK said it would recognize Palestine as a state, but only with non-member observer status, rather than full membership, at the United Nations. In October 2014, the UK House of Commons passed a symbolic non-binding Motion by a vote of 274 in favour to 12 against which called on the Government to recognize Palestine.[254] [255] Also in October 2014, the devolved government of Scotland called for recognition of Palestine as an independent state and for the UK to open an Embassy.[256] Shortly before the 47th G7 summit in June 2021, Labour Party leader Keir Starmer called on Prime Minister Boris Johnson to "press for renewed agreement to finally recognise a state of Palestine and to stop expansion of illegal settlements and to get a meaningful peace process back and running."[257] | Yes | G7, G20, NATO, UNSC (permanent); Palestine–United Kingdom relations. | ||
| In September 2011, President Barack Obama declared U.S. opposition to the bid in his speech to the General Assembly, saying that "genuine peace can only be realized between Israelis and Palestinians themselves" and that "[u]ltimately, it is Israelis and Palestinians – not us – who must reach an agreement on the issues that divide them".[258] Obama told Abbas that the United States would veto any United Nations Security Council move to recognize Palestinian statehood.[259] Presidents Donald Trump and Joe Biden have maintained that UNSC veto policy.[260] [261] | Yes | G7, G20, NATO, OAS, UNSC (permanent); Palestine–United States relations |
| Name | Official position | Relations | Relevant memberships | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| No[262] | ||||
| Yes[263] [264] | ||||
| No[265] |
The State of Palestine is a party to several multilateral treaties, registered with five depositaries: the United Kingdom, UNESCO, United Nations, the Netherlands and Switzerland. The ratification of the UNESCO conventions took place in 2011/2012 and followed Palestine becoming a member of UNESCO, while the ratification of the other conventions were performed in 2014 while negotiations with Israel were in an impasse.
| Depositary country/organization | Depositary organ | Number of treaties | Examples | Date of first ratification/accession | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ministry of Foreign Affairs | 1[266] | ||||
| 1[267] | |||||
| Federal Council | 7[268] [269] | Geneva Conventions and Protocols | |||
| 8[270] | |||||
| >50[271] | |||||
| 2[272] [273] |
In an objection of 16 May 2014, Israel informed the Secretary General of the United Nations that it did not consider that 'Palestine' (single quotation marks in original) met the definition of statehood and that its requested accession to the United Nations Convention against Torture as being "without legal validity and without effect upon Israel's treaty relations under the Convention".[274] The United States and Canada lodged similar objections.[275] [276]
Palestine participated in the negotiation of the UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons and voted in favour of its adoption on 7 July 2017.[277]
"...to be printed in the Irish Times on 17th September 2011".
