Maltese Prime Minister Robert Abela announced Tuesday that Malta would formally recognize a Palestinian state during the United Nations General Assembly in September in New York. Malta will become the 146th country to recognize a Palestinian state.
Abela's statement came just hours after a similar declaration from British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and a few days after French President Emmanuel Macron indicated he too would pursue such a move.
"Our position reflects a commitment to efforts aimed at achieving peace in the Middle East," Abela wrote in a Facebook post.
According to reports, Malta's government has recently faced mounting pressure to support the recognition initiative. The center-right opposition also called for immediate recognition of a Palestinian state in mid-July.
Located south of Italy, the island nation of Malta is considered part of the pro-Palestinian bloc within the European Union, along with countries such as Spain, Ireland, and Slovenia.
Abela initially revealed his intent to recognize a Palestinian state back in May, at which time the move was scheduled to be announced during a UN meeting in June. That meeting, however, was postponed. In May, Ireland, Norway, and Spain officially recognized a Palestinian state.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said Tuesday that the UK would also recognize a Palestinian state in September, unless Israel meets certain conditions. These include a ceasefire and a firm commitment to a long-term peace agreement that incorporates the two-state solution. "Israel must take substantial steps to end the appalling situation in Gaza," Starmer said.
