Ireland to recognise Palestine as a state this month
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Ireland’s foreign minister has said his country will recognise Palestine as a sovereign state by the end of the month.
Speaking to the Newstalk radio station, Micheál Martin said “We will be recognising the state of Palestine before the end of the month. The specific date is still fluid, because we’re still in discussions with some countries in respect of a joint recognition of a Palestinian state.”
He said “I will look forward to consultations today with some foreign ministers in respect of the final specific detail of this.”
AFP notes that in March the leaders of Spain, Ireland, Slovenia and Malta said in a joint statement that they stand ready to recognise Palestinian statehood, and last week, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell mooted 21 May as the date.
Martin said the plan was intended “to send a signal to the Palestinian population at large that we support their right to self-determination and the idea of a two state solution as ultimately the only way that Israelis and Palestinians can live side by side in peace.”
Palestine is already recognised as a sovereign state by 143 out of 193 member states of the UN.
Martin ruled out meeting Israeli officials during a trip to the region he has planned which will include a stop in Lebanon, and also was critical of the US funding new arms shipments for Israel.
He was also asked about calls to fly the Palestinian on government buildings today to mark the anniversary of the Nakba, and said that “I’m not as focused on flags and emblems to be frank in terms of public buildings … this week alone there are two significant days that reflect the complexity of the Middle East and Israeli-Palestinian conflict. You had Israeli Independence Day on the 14th and Nakba day on the 15th. And that, you know, goes back right to the origins of this complex conflict.”
