By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News
JERUSALEM/RIYADH (Worthy News) – The European Union’s foreign policy chief says several EU member states will recognize Palestinian statehood by the end of May, despite Israel’s opposition.
Josep Borrell spoke Monday at the sidelines of a World Economic Forum special meeting in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia after some EU nations indicated they would recognize a Palestinian State comprising the West Bank, the Gaza Strip, and East Jerusalem.
The move has gained traction since the endorsement of the recognition plan by Spain, Ireland, Slovenia, and Malta last month.
In comments monitored by Worthy News, the EU’s European Council President Charles Michel, tasked with reaching a consensus among all 27 EU leaders, suggested other like-minded countries could join the initiative.
While nine EU members now recognize the Palestinians’ “right to statehood” – including Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Romania, and Sweden – the EU’s official position was that it would recognize a Palestinian state only “as part of a two-state solution.”
Yet Borrell suggested that at least some EU states wouldn’t await the outcome of lengthy peace talks between Israel and Palestinians.
‘BUILDING PEACE’
Michel said they should move in tandem to recognize a Palestinian state and “trigger significant progress” in “building peace” in the war-torn region.
However, in February, Israeli lawmakers voted to back Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s rejection of any “unilateral” recognition of the State of Palestine.
Netanyahu said Israel had long resisted international calls to halt the war in Gaza against Hamas but is now facing new pressures “to force upon us the unilateral establishment of a Palestinian state which will endanger the existence of the State of Israel.”
Israel’s government made clear it does not want to reward Hamas with an independent state as the Palestinian “terrorist organization carried out a massacre” on October 7 when it killed some 1,200 people in Israel and kidnapped hundreds of others.
The atrocities sparked the war in Gaza that Hamas claims killed tens of thousands of people and increased global efforts aimed at recognizing Palestinian statehood despite Israel’s security concerns.
Talks about the EU’s role in a Palestinian state come as international pressure mounts on the United States and Germany to suspend sales of arms used by Israel to power its offensive in Gaza against Hamas.
Copyright 1999-2024 Worthy News. This article was originally published on Worthy News and was reproduced with permission.
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