International recognition of the State of Palestine

Countries that have recognised the State of Palestine.

The State of Palestine was proclaimed on 15 November 1988 in Algiers at an extraordinary session in exile of the Palestine National Council. Legal justification for this act was based on United Nations General Assembly Resolution 181 (II) of 29 November 1947, which provided for the termination and partition of the British Mandate into two states.

The declaration was promptly acknowledged by a range of countries, and by the end of the year the proclaimed state was recognised by over 80 nations. In February 1989 at the United Nations Security Council, the PLO representative publicly acknowledged recognition from 94 states. In 2011 the PLO representative said the number of recognitions had reached 139.

As part of an attempt to resolve the ongoing Israeli–Palestinian conflict, the Oslo Accords signed between Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) in September 1993 established the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) as a self-governing interim administration in the Palestinian territories. Israel maintains de facto military control in large parts of the territories even in areas officially under the government of the PNA.

Israel and many other countries do not recognise the existence of an independent State of Palestine, and believe that the establishment of this state should be determined only through direct negotiations between Israel and the PNA. The main issues currently obstructing an agreement are mutual recognition, borders, security, water rights, the status of Jerusalem and freedom of access to religious sites, ongoing settlement expansion, and legalities concerning refugees including the right of return.

Background

Further information: [[:Israel, Palestine and the United Nations and Foreign relations of Palestine.]]

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 acknowledgement 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 other developing states in Africa and Asia. 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. Although these measures were successful in many cases, 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.

In February 1989 at the United Nations Security Council, the PLO representative acknowledged that 94 states had recognised the new Palestinian state. It subsequently attempted to gain membership as a state in several agencies connected to the United Nations, but its efforts were thwarted by U.S. threats to withhold funding from any organisation that admitted Palestine. 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. 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.

In June, 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.

Due to the incertainty [sic] 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.

Consequently, in November, 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.

Many of the early statements of recognition of the State of Palestine were termed ambiguously. In addition, hesitation from others did not necessarily mean that these nations did not regard Palestine as a state. This has seemingly resulted in confusion regarding the number of states that have officially recognised the state declared in 1988. Numbers reported in the past are often widely conflicting and largely excessive, with figures as high as 130 being seen frequently. 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. At the end of the month, the PLO published a paper on why the world's governments should recognise the State of Palestine and listed the 122 countries that had already done so.

Recent events

Main article: Palestine 194

After a two-year impasse in negotiations with Israel, the Palestinian Authority has begun an ambitious 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. The efforts, which begun in late 2009, are scheduled to culminate in September 2011, when the Arab League will submit an application to the United Nations to accept Palestine as a member state. This would constitute collective recognition of the State of Palestine, which would allow its government to pursue legal claims against other states in international courts.

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, in particular, the absence of a veto from any the Security Council's five permanent members. At the prospect of a veto from the United States, Palestinian leaders signalled they might opt instead for a more limited upgrade to "non-member state" status, which requires a simple majority in the General Assembly but provides the Palestinians with the recognition they need.

The campaign, dubbed Palestine 194, was formally backed by the Arab League in May, and was officially confirmed by the PLO on 26 June. The decision has been labelled by the Israeli government as a unilateral step. Several other countries, such as Germany and Canada, have also denounced the decision and called for a prompt return to negotiations. Many others, however, such as Norway and Russia, have endorsed the plan, as well as Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, who stated, "UN members are entitled whether to vote for or against the Palestinian statehood recognition at the UN." The Palestinian government believes it is essential in order to mitigate the current impasse. The application is scheduled to be submitted on 20 September.

President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva of Brazil formally recognised the State of Palestine in December 2010.

Diplomatic efforts to gain support for the bid gained momentum following a succession of endorsements from South America in early 2011. 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. During the lead-up to the vote, Russia, Spain and the People's Republic of China have publicly pledged support the Palestinian bid, as have inter-governmental organisations such as the African Union, and the Non-Aligned Movement.

Israeli measures to counter the initiative also increased, and Germany, Italy, Canada and the U.S. announced publicly 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, the Netanyahu administration has stated that it does not expect to prevent a resolution from passing should it go ahead. In August, Haaretz quoted the Israeli ambassador to the United Nations, Ron Prosor, as stating that Israel stood no chance of altering the outcome of 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."

Photo of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaking to the United States parliament

Israeli Prime Minster Benjamin Netanyahu addressed a joint meeting of U.S. Congress in May 2011, which focused on the issue of Palestinian statehood.

Instead, the Israeli government has focused on obtaining a "moral majority" of major democratic powers, in an attempt to diminish the weight of the vote. Considerable weight has been placed on the position of the European Union, which has not yet been announced. EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton has stated that it is likely to depend on the wording of the resolution. At the end of August, Israel's defence minister Ehud Barak told Ashton that Israel was seeking to influence the wording: "It is very important that all the players come up with a text that will emphasise the quick return to negotiations, without an effort to impose pre-conditions on the sides."

Efforts from both Israel and the U.S. have also focused on pressuring the Palestinian leadership to abandon its plans and return to negotiations. In the U.S., Congress passed a bill denouncing the initiative and calling on the Obama administration to veto any resolution that would recognise a Palestinian state declared outside of an agreement negotiated by the two parties. A similar bill was passed in the Senate, which also threatened a withdrawal of aid to the West Bank. In late August, another congressional bill was introduced which proposes to block U.S. government funding for any United Nations entity that supports giving Palestine an elevated status. Several top U.S. officials, including ambassador to the United Nations Susan Rice and consul-general in Jerusalem Daniel Rubinstein, made similar threats. In the same month, it was reported that the Israeli Ministry of Finance was withholding its monthly payments to the PNA. Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman warned that if the Palestinians made a unilateral approach to the United Nations, they would be in violation of the Oslo Accords, and Israel would no longer consider itself bound by them. He also recommended cutting all ties with the PNA.

President Dmitry Medvedev of Russia reconfirmed its support for the State of Palestine in January 2011.

On 11 July 2011, the Quartet met to discuss a return to negotiations, but the meeting produced no result. President Mahmoud Abbas has claimed that he would suspend the bid and accept a return to negotiations if the Israelis agree to the 1967 borders and cease its expansion of settlements in the West Bank.

The PNA's campaign has seen 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. OneVoice Palestine launched a domestic campaign in partnership with local news agencies, with the aim of getting the involvement and support of Palestinian citizens. Overseas, campaigns were launched in several nations, calling on their governments to vote "yes" in the resolution. 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. During this 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 that "recognition of a state is something to be determined by the member states."

Other United Nations organs have 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". It echoed a similar assessment published the week prior by the International Monetary Fund. 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. The report highlighted, however, that unless private-sector growth in the Palestinian economy was stimulated, a Palestinian state would remain donor dependent.

Israeli position

Ever since the Six Day War and until the Oslo Accord, no Israeli government agreed even to consider the notion of a Palestinian state. Even after the establishment of the Palestinian Authority in 1994, most Israeli mainstream politicians were opposed to the idea. During the Netanyahu government of 1996-1999, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu even went far as accusing the two previous governments of Rabin and Peres of bringing closer the realization of what he claimed to be the "danger" of a Palestinian state, and claimed that his main policy goal was to ensure that the Palestinian Authority doesn't evolve beyond an autonomy.

In December 2001, Ariel Sharon was the first Israeli Prime Minister to proclaim that a Palestinian state was the required solution and goal of his policy. The government headed by Ehud Olmert repeated the same objective. Following the inauguration of the present Netanyahu government in 2009, the government again claimed that a Palestinian state posed a danger for Israel. The government position changed, however, following pressure from the Obama administration, and on June 14, 2009, Netanyahu for the first time made a speech where he supported the notion of a demilitarized and territorially reduced Palestinian state. This position met some criticism for its lack of commitment on the territories to be ceded to the Palestinian state in the future.

The Israeli government accepted in general the idea that a Palestinian state is to be established, but refused to accept the 1967 border either as compulsory or as a basis for the final boundaries. It also opposes the Palestinian plan of approaching the UN General Assembly on the matter of statehood.

Position of other states

See also: Political status of the West Bank and Gaza Strip

States that have recognised

UN member states

Of the 193 member states of the United Nations, (%) have recognised the State of Palestine. Their total population is over 5.2 billion people, equalling 75 percent of the world's population. The list below is based on the list maintained by the Palestine Liberation Organization during the campaign for United Nations recognition in 2011.

It should also be noted that some states, marked with an asterisk (*) below, expressly recognised the State of Palestine on the borders of 4 June 1967 (i.e., the West Bank, Gaza and East Jerusalem), which constituted Arab territory prior to the Six Day War.

= Does not recognise the State of Israel

#	Name	Date of recognition	Diplomatic relations	Relevant membership, further details
1	Algeria	15 November 1988	Yes	Arab League, OIC
2	Bahrain	15 November 1988	Yes	Arab League, OIC
3	Iraq	15 November 1988	Yes	Arab League, OIC
4	Kuwait	15 November 1988	Yes	Arab League, OIC
5	Libya	15 November 1988	Yes	Arab League, OIC
6	Malaysia	15 November 1988	Yes	OIC
7	Mauritania	15 November 1988	Yes	Arab League, OIC
8	Morocco	15 November 1988	Yes	Arab League, OIC
9	Somalia	15 November 1988	Yes	Arab League, OIC
10	Tunisia	15 November 1988	Yes	Arab League, OIC
11	Turkey	15 November 1988	Yes	OIC; Palestine–Turkey relations
12	Yemen	15 November 1988	Yes	Arab League, OIC Further details Recognition extended by both Democratic Yemen and the Yemen Arab Republic, prior to Yemeni unification.
13	Afghanistan	16 November 1988	Yes	OIC
14	Bangladesh	16 November 1988	Yes	OIC
15	Cuba	16 November 1988	Yes	—
16	Indonesia	16 November 1988	Yes	OIC
17	Jordan	16 November 1988	Yes	Arab League, OIC
18	Madagascar	16 November 1988	No	—
19	Malta	16 November 1988	Yes	EU
20	Nicaragua	16 November 1988	Yes	—
21	Pakistan	16 November 1988	Yes	OIC; Pakistan–Palestine relations
22	Qatar	16 November 1988	Yes	Arab League, OIC, UNGA President (Sep 2011–Sep 2012)
23	Saudi Arabia	16 November 1988	Yes	Arab League, OIC
24	United Arab Emirates	16 November 1988	Yes	Arab League, OIC; Palestine – United Arab Emirates relations
25	Serbia	16 November 1988	Yes	—, Palestine–Serbia relations Further details Recognition extended by the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (SFRY). Although the UN did not recognise the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (later renamed Serbia and Montenegro, itself to be succeeded by Serbia in 2006) as its successor, it claims to be such and pledges to adhere to all ratifications, signatures and recognitions conducted by SFRY.
26	Zambia	16 November 1988	Yes	—
27	Albania	17 November 1988	Yes	OIC
28	Brunei	17 November 1988	Yes	OIC
29	Djibouti	17 November 1988	Yes	Arab League, OIC
30	Mauritius	17 November 1988	Yes	—
31	Sudan	17 November 1988	Yes	Arab League, OIC
32	Cyprus	18 November 1988*	Yes	EU Further details In January 2011, the Cypriot government reaffirmed its recognition of the Palestinian state in 1988, and added that it would not recognise any changes to the pre-1967 borders.
33	Czech Republic	18 November 1988	Yes	EU Further details Recognition extended by Czechoslovakia. Following its dissolution, both the Czech Republic and Slovakia retained ties.
34	Slovakia	18 November 1988	Yes	EU Further details Recognition extended by Czechoslovakia. Following its dissolution, both the Czech Republic and Slovakia retained ties.
35	Egypt	18 November 1988	Yes	Arab League, OIC; Egypt–Palestine relations
36	India	18 November 1988	Yes	UNSC (Jan 2011–Dec 2012); India–Palestine relations
37	Nigeria	18 November 1988	Yes	OIC, UNSC (Jan 2010–Dec 2011)
38	Seychelles	18 November 1988	Yes	—
39	Sri Lanka	18 November 1988	Yes	—
40	Belarus	19 November 1988	Yes	—
41	Guinea	19 November 1988	Yes	OIC
42	Namibia	19 November 1988	Yes	— Further details Namibia was established by the South West Africa People's Organization (SWAPO), which recognised the State of Palestine during its time as a UN observer entity.
43	Ukraine	19 November 1988	Yes	—
44	Russia	19 November 1988	Yes	UNSC (permanent); Palestine–Russia relations
45	Vietnam	19 November 1988	Yes	—, Palestine–Vietnam relations
46	China, People's Republic of	20 November 1988	Yes	UNSC (permanent); China–Palestine relations
47	Burkina Faso	21 November 1988	Yes	OIC
48	Comoros	21 November 1988	Yes	Arab League, OIC
49	Guinea-Bissau	21 November 1988	Yes	OIC
50	Mali	21 November 1988	Yes	OIC
51	Cambodia	21 November 1988	Yes	— Further details Recognition extended by the People's Republic of Kampuchea, the predecessor to modern Cambodia. Its civil-war rival, Democratic Kampuchea, announced its recognition three days prior.
52	Mongolia	22 November 1988	Yes	—
53	Senegal	22 November 1988	Yes	OIC
54	Hungary	23 November 1988	Yes	EU
55	Cape Verde	24 November 1988	No	—
56	Korea, North	24 November 1988	Yes	—, North Korea – Palestine relations
57	Niger	24 November 1988	Yes	OIC
58	Romania	24 November 1988	Yes	EU; Romania–Palestine relations
59	Tanzania	24 November 1988	Yes	—
60	Bulgaria	25 November 1988	Yes	EU
61	Maldives	28 November 1988	Yes	OIC
62	Ghana	29 November 1988	Yes	—
63	Togo	29 November 1988	No	OIC
64	Zimbabwe	29 November 1988	Yes	—
65	Chad	1 December 1988	Yes	OIC
66	Laos	2 December 1988	Yes	—
67	Sierra Leone	3 December 1988	No	OIC
68	Uganda	3 December 1988	Yes	OIC
69	Congo, Republic of the	5 December 1988	Yes	—
70	Angola	6 December 1988	Yes	—
71	Mozambique	8 December 1988	Yes	OIC
72	São Tomé and Príncipe	10 December 1988	No	—
73	Congo, Democratic Republic of the	10 December 1988	No	—
74	Gabon	12 December 1988	Yes	OIC, UNSC (Jan 2010–Dec 2011)
75	Oman	13 December 1988	Yes	Arab League, OIC
76	Poland	14 December 1988	Yes	EU
77	Botswana	19 December 1988	No	—
78	Nepal	19 December 1988	No	—
79	Burundi	22 December 1988	No	—
80	Central African Republic	23 December 1988	No	—
81	Bhutan	25 December 1988	No	—
82	Rwanda	2 January 1989	No	—
83	Ethiopia	4 February 1989	Yes	—
84	Iran	4 February 1989	Yes	OIC; Iran–Palestine relations
85	Benin	May 1989 or before	Yes	OIC
86	Equatorial Guinea	May 1989 or before	No	—
87	Gambia	May 1989 or before	Yes	OIC
88	Kenya	May 1989 or before	Yes	—
89	Vanuatu	21 August 1989	Yes	—
90	Philippines	September 1989	Yes	—
91	Swaziland	July 1991 or before	Yes	—
92	Kazakhstan	6 April 1992	Yes	OIC
93	Azerbaijan	15 April 1992	Yes	OIC
94	Georgia	25 April 1992	Yes	—
95	Bosnia and Herzegovina	27 May 1992	Yes	UNSC (Jan 2010–Dec 2011)
96	Tajikistan	2 April 1994	Yes	OIC
97	Uzbekistan	25 September 1994	Yes	OIC
98	South Africa	15 February 1995	Yes	UNSC (Jan 2011–Dec 2012); Palestine – South Africa relations
99	Kyrgyzstan	November 1995	Yes	OIC
100	East Timor	1 March 2004	Yes	—
101	Papua New Guinea	4 October 2004	Yes	—
102	Turkmenistan	November 2004 or before	No	OIC
103	Paraguay	25 March 2005*	Yes	— Further details On 28 January 2011, Paraguay's Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a written reaffirmation of its government's recognition of the State of Palestine. The statement noted that the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two governments in 2005 had implied mutual recognition.
104	Montenegro	24 July 2006	Yes	—
105	Costa Rica	5 February 2008	Yes	—
106	Lebanon	30 November 2008	Yes	Arab League, OIC, UNSC (Jan 2010–Dec 2011; will be President of the Council during September) Further details Date given is that of first official recognition. In Palestine's application to UNESCO in May 1989, Lebanon was listed as having recognised the State of Palestine, but without a date. The list was submitted without objection from Lebanon, but later sources have shown that official recognition was not accorded until 2008. At that time, the Lebanese cabinet approved the establishment of full diplomatic relations with the State of Palestine, but did not set a date for when this was to occur. On 11 August 2011, the cabinet agreed to implement its earlier decision and Abbas formally inaugurated his government's embassy in Beirut on 16 August.
107	Côte d'Ivoire	2008 or before	Yes	OIC
108	Venezuela	27 April 2009	Yes	—, Palestine–Venezuela relations
109	Dominican Republic	14 July 2009	Yes	—
110	Brazil	1 December 2010*	Yes	UNSC (Jan 2010–Dec 2011); Brazil–Palestine relations
111	Argentina	6 December 2010*	Yes	—
112	Bolivia	22 December 2010*	No	—
113	Ecuador	24 December 2010*	Yes	—
114	Chile	7 January 2011	Yes	—
115	Guyana	13 January 2011*	Yes	OIC
116	Peru	24 January 2011	Yes	—
117	Suriname	1 February 2011*	No	OIC
118	Uruguay	15 March 2011	Yes	—
119	Malawi	19 April 2011*	Yes	—
120	Lesotho	6 June 2011*	No	—
121	Syria	18 July 2011*	Yes	Arab League, OIC
122	Liberia	July 2011	No	—
123	El Salvador	25 August 2011	No	—
124	Honduras	26 August 2011*	No	—
125	Saint Vincent and the Grenadines	30 August 2011	No	—
126	Belize	9 September 2011*	Yes	—
127	Antigua and Barbuda	22 September 2011*	No	—

Non-UN member states

#	Name	Date of recognition	Diplomatic relations	Relevant membership, further details
128	Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic	15 November 1988	No	—

States that have not recognised

UN member states

#	Name	Official position	Relations	Relevant memberships
1	Andorra	In January 2011, Andorra co-sponsored a draft resolution guaranteeing the Palestinian people's right to self-determination.	No
2	Armenia	On 20 June 2011, Fatah representative Nabil Shaath met with Foreign Minister Eduard Nalbandyan to enlist the support of Armenia in the upcoming resolution. Afterwards, Shaath announced that he had been informed by a number of countries that they would recognise Palestine in the following weeks, and that he expected Armenia to be the first of these. However, the Armenian government did not release any statement regarding the meeting. The situation in Palestine is often seen as analogous to the conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh, and that any recognition of a Palestinian state by Armenia would set a precedent for the right to self-determination in that region. On similar situations, President Serzh Sargsyan previously stated, "Having the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Armenia can not recognise another entity in the same situation as long as it has not recognised the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic".	No
3	Australia	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. The admittance of the Labor Party to power in 2007 returned Australia's vote in General Assembly resolutions on the Israeli–Palestinian conflict to the side of the majority, calling on Israel to abide by international laws. In regards to the upcoming resolution to admit Palestine as a state, a division in positions emerged: Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd recommended abstaining from the vote, whilst Prime Minister Julia Gillard declared strong support for Israel. 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. We are long-standing supporters of Israel's right to exist behind secure borders and we have said for a very long time this question is only going to be resolved by people sitting around a table and negotiating it to resolution." Gillard has made ties with Israel a priority of her foreign policy.	Yes
4	Austria	Austria conferred full diplomatic status on the PLO representation in Vienna on 13 December 1978, under then-chancellor Bruno Kreisky. 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 [Israelis and Palestinians] the opportunity to bring the Middle East peace process back on track." Spindelegger also suggested that the EU draft its own version of the resolution. Further details In Annex II of the State of Palestine's UNESCO application, Austria was initially listed as having extended recognition on 14 December 1988. However, the submitting states (Algeria, Indonesia, Mauritania, Nigeria, Senegal and Yemen) later requested that Austria be removed from the list.	Yes	EU
5	Bahamas	The Bahamas has not publicised an official position of its own regarding the State of Palestine. It is a member of the Caribbean Community, which supports a two-state solution along internationally recognised borders. In March 2011, the new Israeli ambassador to the country urged its leaders not to recognise a Palestinian state before negotiations for co-existence between Israel and Palestine had been settled.	No
6	Barbados	Barbados is one of a number of Caribbean states whom have not announced an official position on recognition of the State of Palestine. It is a member of the Caribbean Community, which strives to establish a co-ordinated foreign policy and supports a two-state solution along internationally recognised borders.	No
7	Belgium	On the issue of Palestinian statehood, Belgium explicitly supports the declarations of the European Union. On 15 July 2011, the Belgian Senate adopted a resolution urging the government to recognise Palestine on the pre-1967 borders. Prime Minister Yves Leterme stressed the importance of achieving a unified EU position before September.	Yes	EU
8	Cameroon	Cameroon officially supports a two-state solution. Although a member of the OIC, President Paul Biya has developed strong ties with Israel since the mid-1980's. 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. Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu has asked Biya to oppose the upcoming United Nations resolution that would admit Palestine as a member state.	Yes	OIC
9	Canada	Canada supports the creation of a sovereign Palestinian state, but only as part of a "comprehensive, just and lasting peace settlement". The Harper administration is traditionally 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 recognised as such, while the Palestinian state is to be a non-militarised one".	Yes
10	Colombia	In March 2011, following a succession of recognition statements from South American governments, President Juan Manuel Santos stated unequivocally that Colombia will not recognise Palestine as a state as a "matter of principle" until an agreement is reached with Israel. He emphasised that the only path to peace in the Middle East was through direct negotiations. Colombia strengthened its ties with Israel in 2008, and Israel is now its primary supplier of weaponry.	Yes	UNSC (Jan 2011–Dec 2012)
11	Croatia	Croatia formalised relations with the PNA in March 2011. Prime Minister Jadranka Kosor said that her government supports the co-existence of two states, Israel and Palestine.	Yes
12	Denmark	Denmark is a strong supporter of the Palestinian state-building agenda, advocating EU support to the Palestinian Authority's two-year deadline for the establishment of the necessary foundations for a viable state; a plan which expires in August 2011. During the campaign for the 2011 elections, the opposition party argued that Denmark should recognise 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 co-ordinate policy with the EU. "It is essential that a recognition also contributes to real political progress. And we are not there yet. That is why I do not want Denmark to go it alone in such an important question."	Yes	EU; Denmark–Palestine relations
13	Dominica	Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit is regarded by political analysts as a close ally of Venezuela's Hugo Chavez—himself a staunch supporter of Palestine. It was speculated in the media that Skerrit would likely vote for Palestine in any resolution. Dominica is a member of the Caribbean Community, which supports a two-state solution along internationally recognised borders. It is also one of eight members of the Bolivarian Alliance, which issued a statement on 9 September 2011 expressing full support for the recognition of the State of Palestine by the United Nations.	No
14	Eritrea	President Isaias Afewerki has stated that his government does not recognise Palestine. In October 2010, he 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".	Yes
15	Estonia	During a meeting with Riyad al-Malki in June 2010, Foreign Minister Urmas Paet confirmed that Estonia supports the right to self-determination for the Palestinian people as well as a two-state solution. Officials have stated that the government will not adopt a position regarding the United Nations bid until the final wording of the resolution is published.	Yes	EU
16	Fiji	Fijian policy on the Israeli–Palestinian conflict is largely based on United Nations resolutions. In 2011, it was reported that Fiji's vote on Palestine's membership at the United Nations may have been the subject of classified communications passed between the Fijian and Vanuatuan governments.	No
17	Finland	In December 2010, foreign affairs minister Alexander Stubb, on the prospect of recognising a Palestinian state, said: "I would not like to go there yet. I think the most important thing is to keep the peace process going." In April 2011, Stubb confirmed his country's support for the PNA's political and economic program. Palestinian planning minister Ali Jarbawi released a statement lauding Finland's efforts in the European Union to gain recognition for a Palestinian state in September.	Yes	EU
18	France	According to President Nicolas Sarkozy, "France supports the solution of two nation states living side-by-side in peace and security, within safe and recognised borders." In May 2011, Sarkozy said that if peace talks with Israel had not resumed by September, he would recognise the State of Palestine as part of its bid at the United Nations. "If the peace process is still dead in September, France will face up to its responsibilities on the central question of recognition of a Palestinian state." This echoed statements made in March by Nabil Shaath, who claimed to have received a promise from France that it would recognise in September a Palestinian state on the 1967 borders. According to Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, however, Sarkozy had said that France's support would require the Palestinians to recognise 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." This broke with the European Union's traditional position, which adamantly opposes any mention of Israel as a Jewish state. 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.	Yes	EU, UNSC (permanent)
19	Germany	In April 2011, Chancellor Angela Merkel labelled the Palestinian bid for recognition a "unilateral step", and stated unequivocally that Germany will not recognise 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". 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 recognise a Palestinian state. Let us ensure that negotiations begin. It is urgent". Further details The German Democratic Republic recognised the State of Palestine on 18 November 1988, but it later unified with the Federal Republic of Germany and the current government does not recognise it.	Yes	EU, UNSC (Jan 2011–Dec 2012)
20	Greece	President Karolos Papoulias has stated that Greece ultimately supports the creation of a Palestinian state alongside Israel. Under previous governments, Greece garnered a reputation as a staunch supporter of the Palestinian cause. 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. Since the formation of current foreign policy under George Papandreou, Greece has seen a rapid improvement in relations with Israel, leading the media to mark the conclusion of Greece's pro-Palestinian era. This was most notably showcased by the Greek government's support for Israel's blockade of the Gaza Strip, when it stopped the sailing of the Freedom Flotilla II in July 2011.	Yes	EU
21	Grenada	Grenada is a member of the Caribbean Community, which strives to establish a co-ordinated foreign policy and supports a two-state solution along internationally recognised borders. In regards to the upcoming bid at the United Nations, however, Grenadan Foreign Minister Karl Hood stated that the organisation had not yet decided how to vote, and that its members were "not together on this". Hood reported that Grenada had been subjected to intense lobbying from both sides. "We have to look at all the issues, and the implications of what the vote is."	No
22	Guatemala	Guatemala has not indicated its position regarding the upcoming vote on statehood. President Álvaro Colom stated in mid-September that he was still analysing the matter. Israel is the country's largest supplier of military aid.	No
23	Haiti	Haiti is a member of the Caribbean Community, which strives to establish a co-ordinated foreign policy and supports a two-state solution along internationally recognised borders.	No
24	Iceland	Following a trip to Gaza in July 2011, Foreign Minister Össur Skarphéðinsson announced his country would support a formal call for Palestinian statehood this September. "I told [al-Maliki] that if it came to be at the United Nations General Assembly in September that a motion would be put forward by the nations supporting Palestinian independence and encouraging other nations to recognise Palestine as an independent nation with its 1967 borders, Iceland would support that. Likewise, if a proposition comes to the UN to include Palestine into the UN as a new nation ... Iceland would also support that."	Yes
25	Ireland	In January 2011, Ireland accorded the Palestinian delegation in Dublin to diplomatic status. The foreign ministry in Israel responded that it was "not surprised" due to the Irish government's "biased policy regarding the conflict over the years". The upgrade was subsequently echoed in seven other EU countries. In March, Foreign Affairs Minister Eamon Gilmore claimed that Ireland would "lead the charge" in recognising Palestinian statehood, but that it would not come until the PNA was in full and sole control over the its territories. "The timing of such a declaration will be an important decision ... I very much hope to be able to extend recognition of a full, functional Palestinian state during my time in office." In regards to the proposed resolution from the United Nations, Gilmore's department reported at the beginning of September that Ireland had yet to formally adopt a position on the matter, saying the government's precise position would depend on the wording of the official proposal.	Yes	EU
26	Israel	See above	Yes
27	Italy	Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi said in May 2011 that Italy would not recognise a unilateral declaration of Palestinian statehood. At an event in Rome celebrating Israel's independence, Berlusconi praised Israel for being the only true democracy in the Middle East and pledged his country's support for Israelis in "difficult situations". "Italy has always stood by Israel, even within the framework of the EU when it opposed decisions that were unbalanced and unjust towards Israel." In June, he reiterated: "We do not believe that a unilateral solution can help peace, neither on the Palestinian side nor on the Israeli side. I believe peace can only be reached with a common initiative through negotiations." His position was shared by parliamentarians, who drafted a letter to the United Nations stating, "A premature, unilateral declaration of Palestinian statehood would not only undermine rather than resolve the Israeli–Palestinian peace process, but would constitute a standing affront to the integrity of the United Nations, international agreements, and international law."	Yes	EU
28	Jamaica	Like other members of the Caribbean Community, Jamaica supports a two-state solution. In 2010, Prime Minister Bruce Golding expressed hope for "a just, lasting and comprehensive peace in the Middle East that guarantees the security of Israel and the unquestioned recognition of a Palestinian state." The Golding administration has not announced a position on the upcoming resolution.	No
29	Japan	Japan supports a two-state solution to the conflict, and is firmly committed to the establishment of a Palestinian state. Responding to Israeli settlement activities in 2010, the Japanese government stated that it would not recognise any act that prejudges the final status of Jerusalem and the territories in the pre-1967 borders. Likewise, in January 2011, it declared that it would not recognise the annexation of East Jerusalem by Israel. Regarding the September initiative, Japan is reported to be still debating the matter.	Yes
30	Kiribati	During the summit of the Pacific Islands Forum in early September 2011, the foreign minister of Kiribati reportedly expressed support for the Palestinian position.	No
31	Korea, South	The government of South Korea does not recognise the State of Palestine.	Yes
32	Latvia	Latvia supports a two-state solution to the conflict and provides development assistance to the Palestinian National Authority.	Yes	EU
33	Liechtenstein	Liechtenstein relies on Switzerland to carry out most of its foreign affairs. 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.	No
34	Lithuania	Like the rest of the European Union, Lithuania supports a two-state solution including an independent Palestinian state. Regarding the Palestinian push for United Nations membership, Foreign Minister Audronius Azubalis stressed the importance of maintaining a unanimous and well-balanced EU position which encouraged both parties to resume peace talks.	Yes	EU
35	Luxembourg	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. Asselborn himself has been described as openly pro-Palestinian. 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", 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. He noted that securing the support of all EU nations "would be an enormous moral advantage" for Palestine.	Yes	EU
36	Macedonia, Republic of	According to Foreign Minister Nikola Poposki, stated, the Macedonian position will be built in accordance with the views of the European Union and its strategic partners.	No
37	Marshall Islands	The Marshallese government has not published an official position regarding the Palestinian state. Under the terms of its agreements with the United States, it has limited independence in its foreign policy, and hence mostly votes with Israel and the U.S. in United Nations resolutions, along with Palau and the Federated States of Micronesia.	No
38	Mexico	Mexico maintains a policy of supporting a two-state solution. Palestinian and Israeli officials expected Mexico to follow South American countries in recognising the State of Palestine in early 2011. Its position on the matter is seen as influential in Latin America, and therefore critical to both proponents and opponents. Opposition parties have urged the government to recognise a Palestinian state as part of the September initiative, putting down its hesitance to U.S. pressure.	Yes
39	Micronesia, Federated States of	The FSM is a consistent supporter of Israel, especially in international resolutions, though this is due in part to its association with the United States. 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
40	Moldova	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
41	Monaco	The Monégasque government has not published an official position on Palestinian statehood. As required by its agreements with France, Monaco's foreign policy is developed in conformity with French interests.	No
42	Myanmar	Myanmar is one of only three members of the Non-Aligned Movement that has not recognised the State of Palestine, alongside Thailand and Singapore. Former foreign affairs minister Win Aung stated in 2000 that Myanmar supports a two-state solution within internationally recognised borders.	No
43	Nauru	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. The PNA's foreign ministry published a statement prior to the summit claiming that most Pacific island nations will vote against the United Nations resolution regarding the Palestinian state.	No
44	Netherlands	In June 2011, Foreign Minister Uri Rosenthal stated that the request to admit Palestine at the United Nations "will not be supported by the Netherlands". He called instead for a resumption of negotiations: "We will continue to stress for a restart to direct negotiations." He insisted that a peace deal must be based "on an agreement between all parties", and that the Netherlands was "totally opposed to any unilateral steps whatsoever". Abbas highlighted the importance of the Dutch role in the peace process, precisely because it maintained close ties with Israel: "It doesn't disturb us at all. They play a very important role and the Palestinian people are very appreciative of their help."	Yes	EU
45	New Zealand	New Zealand support a two-state solution to the peace process. It also maintains a policy of not expressing explicit recognition of new states, preferring to imply recognition through actions rather than formal declarations. For Palestine, this would mean upgrading its accredited delegation to an diplomatic status. In early September, 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.	Yes
46	Norway	Norway upgraded the Palestinian mission in Oslo to an embassy in December 2010, and Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre called for the creation of a Palestinian state within the following year. In January 2011, Støre stated that, should negotiations with Israel fail to make progress by September, his country would recognise Palestine within the United Nations framework. Following a meeting with Abbas in July 2011, Støre claimed that it was "perfectly legitimate" for the Palestinians to seek a vote on recognition of statehood. "The fundamental Norwegian view is that a people have the right to use UN institutions to clarify questions about the legitimacy of their status in the world. We are opposed to denying this to the Palestinians". The minister withheld full commitment until the request was officially announced, after which, on 18 September, he confirmed that Norway would lend its support: "Norway will support this and is prepared to recognise a Palestinian state."	Yes
47	Palau	At the Pacific Islands Forum summit in early September 2011, the leader of the country's delegation expressed understanding for the suffering of the Palestinians and his desire to see a Palestinian state. He stressed, however, the importance of his country's relations with the U.S. and that his government would not interfere with its vital interests.	No
48	Panama	Panama has not indicated its position regarding the upcoming vote on statehood, and is reported to be undecided on the matter. President Ricardo Martinelli has a record of supporting Israel in UN resolutions, and has reportedly resisted pressure from other Latin American governments to recognise Palestine. The Central American Integration System (SICA) was expected to adopt a joint position on the issue at its summit on 18 August, but Panama insisted that discussion should retain a regional focus and the matter was not included on the final agenda. 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."	No
49	Portugal	In February 2011, several parliamentary factions proposed resolutions calling on the government to recognise the State of Palestine. However, these were dismissed by the two majority parties, which insisted on a prior settlement acceptable to both Palestinians and Israelis. Foreign Minister Paulo Portas stated that Portugal supports the initiative to recognise 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."	Yes	EU, UNSC (Jan 2011–Dec 2012)
50	Saint Kitts and Nevis	Saint Kitts and Nevis is a member of the Caribbean Community, which strives to establish a co-ordinated foreign policy between its member states. In May 2011, the organisation's Foreign Council jointly reiterated its support for a two-state solution along internationally recognised borders. The council was chaired by Kittian Foreign Minister Sam Condor. Earlier in April, Condor had accepted assistance from Israel in developing the country's intelligence and security sectors.	No
51	Saint Lucia	Saint Lucia and its President Stephenson King have a steady history of co-operation with Israel. It is a member of the Caribbean Community, which strives to establish a co-ordinated foreign policy and supports a two-state solution along internationally recognised borders.	No
52	Samoa	Prime Minister Tuila'epa Sailele Malielegaoi has expressed support for a two-state solution to the conflict.	No
53	San Marino	San Marino's foreign activities are limited, and it does not maintain formal ties with the Palestinians. The government reportedly received intense pressure from Israel to vote no on the Palestinian resolution.	No
54	Singapore	Singapore has not yet recognised the State of Palestine and has not announced a position regarding the upcoming vote. The island state has a strong relationship with Israel.	No
55	Slovenia	In a letter addressed to Ban Ki-moon dated April 2011, President Danilo Türk claimed that "the moment to solve the Israeli–Palestinian conflict, on the basis of two independent states, Israel and Palestine, living alongside each other peacefully, is now". In June, Foreign Minister Samuel Zbogar stated that his government was ready to "start making [the] first steps towards recognising Palestine", but stressed that the issue of recognition as a state has to be separated from its membership in the UN. He also noted that "Slovenia is not waiting for a joint position of the EU, because there will not be one."	Yes	EU
56	Solomon Islands	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 for the self-determination of Palestinians and for the efforts of Palestine at the United Nations. He said that the possibility of recognising the State of Palestine would be considered in the next meeting of cabinet.	No
57	South Sudan	The Palestinian government officially recognised the newly independent South Sudan on 14 July 2011. Subsequently, on 5 August, South Sudanese Foreign Minister Deng Alor Kuol officially announced his government's intention to recognise Palestine, stating, "We will recognise any state that recognises us". This had been implied before, as Vice President Riek Machar had announced his government's intention to establish relations "with all the Arab and Muslim countries" and recognised "the right to have a Palestinian state". At the end of August, however, Koul reportedly announced that he would support Israel in the September resolution.	No
58	Spain	On 1 July 2011, the Spanish parliament passed a resolution urging its government to recognise the State of Palestine on the 1967 borders. Prior to this, Nabil Shaath had claimed in May that Spain intented to recognise the Palestinian state before September. In late July, Foreign Minister Trinidad Jiménez said that Spain supports the bid, but that it would not determine its position until the proposal is made official. In an interview with El País in August, Jiménez confirmed Spain's support: "We are working with the idea that there is a majority in the EU that will support moving forward with the recognition of Palestine," she added, "There is a feeling that now is the moment to act, to give the Palestinians some hope that their state will become a reality."	Yes	EU
59	Sweden	Sweden is widely considered to be among the most pro-Palestinian states in the EU. The union's 2009 declarations, which call for a two-state solution and refute any unilateral changes to the pre-1967 borders, were drafted and pushed through by Sweden. However, Foreign Minister Carl Bildt has said the most fundamental definition of a state is that it controls its own territory, and that Palestinians won't control their own territory unless there is a settlement with Israel. "I would hope that we would be in a position to recognise a Palestinian state but there has to be one first". "A state has to be founded on an end of occupation, and an end of occupation is based upon an agreement with Israel". Sweden upgraded its Palestinian delegation in Stockholm in early September.	Yes	EU
60	Switzerland	Switzerland was expected to adopt an official position at the end of August 2011, based on the recommendations of the foreign affairs parliamentary committee. On 16 August, the Senate committee advised that Switzerland should not take a position, in line with the country's policy of neutrality. Members of parliament, which has not yet discussed the matter, are divided.	Yes
61	Thailand	In December 2010, Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya met with the Palestinian delegation at the OIC and reportedly promised to throw Thai support behind the Palestinian struggle. Hesitance to publicly commit to this, however, is seen as an example of the military's influence in government, given the consistently strong ties between the Thai and Israeli security sectors. In August, Nabil Shaath reported that the new Thai government under Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra would support the PNA's endeavours at the United Nations in September.	No
62	Tonga	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
63	Trinidad and Tobago	Trinidad and Tobago is a member of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), which strives to establish a co-ordinated foreign policy and supports a two-state solution along internationally recognised borders.	No
64	Tuvalu		No
65	United Kingdom	In September 2011, Britain said it would recognise Palestine as a state, but only with non-member observer status, rather than full membership, at the United Nations.	Yes	EU, UNSC (permanent); Palestine – United Kingdom relations
66	United States	In a speech to the United Nations General Assembly on September 21 2011, President Barack Obama declared US opposition to the Palestinian statehood bid. In his speech, Obama said that "genuine peace can only be realized beetween 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". Obama has told Mamoud Abbas that the US would veto any United Nations Security council move to recognize Palestinian statehood.	Yes	UNSC (permanent); Palestine – United States relations

Non-UN member states

#	Name	Official position	Relations	Relevant memberships
—	European Union	In July 2009, EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana called for the United Nations to recognise the Palestinian state by a set deadline even if a settlement had not been reached: "The mediator has to set the timetable. If the parties are not able to stick to it, then a solution backed by the international community should ... be put on the table. After a fixed deadline, a UN Security Council resolution ... would accept the Palestinian state as a full member of the UN, and set a calendar for implementation." In December, the Council of the European Union endorsed a set of conclusions on the Israeli–Palestinian conflict which forms the basis of present EU policy. It reasserted the objective of a two-state solution, and stressed that the union "will not recognise any changes to the pre-1967 borders including with regard to Jerusalem, other than those agreed by the parties." It recalled that the EU "has never recognised the annexation of East Jerusalem" and that the State of Palestine must have its capital in Jerusalem. In December 2010, the Council reiterated these conclusions and announced its readiness, when appropriate, to recognise a Palestinian state, but encouraged a return to negotiations. The EU is the single largest donor of foreign aid to the Palestinians. Following a meeting of the union's foreign ministers on 2 September, Catherine Ashton stated that the EU position would depend on the wording of the Palestinian proposal. After the PNA confirmed that it would request full membership, an EU counter initiative was put forward which would see Palestine's status upgrade to that of an observer state. The proposal would include a promise from all members that they would vote for the resolution; in exchange the PNA must drop its plan to request full membership. Israel condemned the proposal, and Ashton, under pressure from Netanyahu and the U.S., raised a proposal of her own which did not include recognition of a state. Her proposal was rejected by several member states, which said she acted without authority and that under these terms members were bound to split their votes. Member states (8 / 27) Austria • Belgium • Bulgaria † • Cyprus † • Czech Republic † • Denmark • Estonia • Finland • France • Germany • Greece • Hungary † • Ireland • Italy • Latvia • Lithuania • Luxembourg • Malta † • Netherlands • Poland † • Portugal • Romania † • Slovakia † • Slovenia • Spain • Sweden • United Kingdom  † – Have recognised the State of Palestine.	Yes	European Union – Palestine relations
67	Holy See	Pope Benedict XVI called for the creation of a Palestinian state during his visit to the Holy Land in 2009. He met with Abbas again in June 2011, as part of the Palestinian effort to gain recognition as a state from the United Nations. An official statement released by the Vatican after the meeting read, "Particular stress was laid on the urgent need to find a just and lasting solution to the Israeli–Palestinian conflict, one capable of ensuring respect for the rights of all and, therefore, the attainment of the Palestinian people's legitimate aspirations for an independent State. It was thus reiterated that soon the State of Israel and the Palestinian State must live in security, at peace with their neighbours and within internationally recognised borders".	Yes	Holy See–Palestine relations; Holy See and the Arab–Israeli peace process

Notes

See also

• List of states with limited recognition
• Palestinian nationalism
• Proposals for a Palestinian state

External links

• Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Palestinian National Authority
• Negotiations Affairs Department, Palestine Liberation Organization
• Avaaz.org petition
• Palestine State 194 campaign
• OneVoice Palestine