On the evening of Tuesday 29 July, the foreign ministers of France (see EUROPE 13688/21), Finland, Luxembourg Malta and Portugal announced their countries’ willingness to recognise the State of Palestine.
In a letter co-signed by their counterparts from Andorra, Australia, Canada, Iceland, Ireland, New Zealand, Norway, San Marino, Slovenia and Spain, the ministers explain that “ahead of the meeting of the Heads of State and Government that will take place during the high-level week of the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA 80) in September 2025”, they “have expressed or express the willingness or positive consideration of [their] countries to recognise the State of Palestine, as an essential step towards the two-state solution”. They also invite all countries that have not yet done so to join this appeal.
The other EU Member States that signed the letter have already recognised the State of Palestine, as have Norway and Iceland. Australia, New Zealand, Andorra, Canada and San Marino, which do not yet recognise it, could therefore do so.
Earlier in the day, the UK announced that it would also proceed with recognition unless Israel took “substantive steps” to end the “appalling” situation in Gaza, agreed a ceasefire and “committed to a long-term sustainable peace, reviving the prospect of a two-state solution”.
In their letter, the ministers also call on countries that have not yet done so to establish normal relations with Israel and to express their willingness to enter into discussions on the regional integration of the Jewish state. They are also calling for humanitarian aid to be allowed into Gaza and for all Israeli hostages to be released.
See the letter: https://aeur.eu/f/i1v (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)