On Thursday, Slovenia’s government, led by Prime Minister Robert Golob, officially approved the recognition of Palestine as an independent and sovereign state. This decision aligns Slovenia with Spain, Ireland, and Norway, which have recently acknowledged Palestinian statehood, sparking immediate criticism from Israel.
Israel’s Foreign Minister, Israel Katz, sharply criticized the move, claiming it effectively rewards Hamas for its actions, referring to the group’s October 7 attack that precipitated the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
During a press conference in Ljubljana, Prime Minister Golob stated, “Today the government has decided to recognize Palestine as an independent and sovereign state,” adding that the Slovenian parliament would need to ratify this decision in the coming days.
In a symbolic gesture, the Slovenian government raised the Palestinian flag alongside the Slovenian and EU flags in front of its government building in downtown Ljubljana.
On May 28, Spain, Ireland, and Norway’s recognition of Palestine elicited a strong reaction from Israel. Additionally, several EU member states, including Sweden, Slovakia, Romania, Cyprus, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Poland and Bulgaria, have already recognized a Palestinian state, with Malta also contemplating recognition.
Conversely, countries like Britain and Australia are contemplating recognition, while France has expressed that now is not the appropriate time. Germany, aligning with its ally, the United States, has rejected unilateral recognition, insisting on a negotiated two-state solution.
Meanwhile, Denmark’s parliament recently voted against a bill to recognize a Palestinian state. Norway, historically aligned with the U.S. stance and chair of the international donor group to the Palestinians, has signalled a shift away from previous U.S. strategies due to dwindling confidence in their efficacy.
Amidst these geopolitical shifts, Gaza health authorities report significant casualties, with over 36,000 Palestinians killed in the conflict over the past seven months.
