Four European countries including Spain have agreed to recognize Palestine as an independent state. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said this after a meeting of the European Council in Brussels on Friday (March 22).
According to the Reuters report, the other three countries are Ireland, Malta and Slovenia. In the meantime, they have taken initial steps to recognize Palestine.
According to the report, a meeting between the Arab states and the European Union was held in Spain last November. They agreed to a two-state solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.
Sánchez expressed hope that this recognition will be met within the term of his government. He also said that they reached an agreement during a meeting with the Prime Ministers of Ireland, Malta and Slovenia on Friday morning on the sidelines of the Council meeting.
After the meeting, Ireland said in a joint statement, "We have agreed to implement the two-state solution." As a result, Israelis and Palestinians can live side by side in peace and security.
In a tweet after the meeting, Malta's Prime Minister Robert Abella said, "Along with Spain, Ireland and Slovenia, we have agreed to recognize the Palestinian state." We will recognize when appropriate conditions arise and can contribute to a successful peace process.
Earlier, Slovenian Prime Minister Robert Golob said he believed more could be done to strengthen political support for a Palestinian state at the United Nations.
Since 1988, 139 of the 193 member states of the United Nations have recognized Palestine as a state.
In the midst of Israeli military aggression in Gaza strip the formation of Palestinian state have gained momentum. Last month the British foreign minister David Cameroon said that UK was ready to recognize the Palestine state.
