With Sweden’s recent announcement that the Nordic nation will recognize the state of Palestine, the first European nation has joined the majority of the world in supporting the two-state solution.
“The conflict between Israel can only be solved with a two-state solution, negotiated in accordance with international law,” said Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Lofven during his inaugural address to Parliament.
“A two-state solution requires mutual recognition and a will to peaceful co-existence. Sweden will therefore recognize the state of Palestine.”
The move was welcomed by the Palestinian Authority in Ramallah, who called the Swedish recognition “courageous.”
“We salute the announcement by the Swedish prime minister,” stated Saeb Erekat, the “chief negotiator” for the PA.
Over 130 countries officially recognize Palestine. The majority of the world by number of people and by land area recognizes Palestine.
Among the most prominent opponenets of recognition are the US, Canada, Australia, Japan and Europe.
The number is up from around 90 countries that recognized Palestine in 1988, before the Palestinian National Countcil unilaterally declared independence based on a two-state solution.
Although no other European nations recognize Palestine, some of the European Union’s 28 member nations do: Bulgaria, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Malta, Poland, Romania and Slovakia all recognize the state of Palestine.
The UK is set to consider recognition this year. The UK will vote on Palestine after the parliament’s summer recess ends Oct. 13.
By James Haleavy