Slovenia becomes latest European country to recognize a Palestinian state
Slovenia became the latest European country to recognize a Palestinian state. The Slovenian parliament voted overwhelmingly in favor of the move, with 52 votes for and none against in the 90-seat legislature.
Slovenia’s government had endorsed the motion to recognize a Palestinian state the prior week, and sent the proposal to parliament for final approval, which was necessary for the decision to take effect. Slovenian Foreign Minister Tanja Fajon described the move as “a message of hope and peace”, and reiterated Slovenia’s belief that “only a two-state solution can lead to a lasting peace in the Middle East.”
Slovenia’s recognition came just days after Spain, Norway, and Ireland also formally recognized a Palestinian state — a decision that was condemned by Israel. Prior to this latest wave, only seven members of the 27-nation European Union had officially recognized a Palestinian state, the majority of them former Eastern Bloc countries that did so in 1988.
In comments to lawmakers, Slovenian Prime Minister Robert Golob evoked his country’s own independence from Yugoslavia in 1991, contrasting it with the Palestinian nation’s ongoing struggle for statehood. He had initially delayed the recognition process in May, citing the need to wait for an improvement in the situation surrounding the latest Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza. However, Golob later accelerated the timeline in response to Israel’s attacks on the city of Rafah, which had caused over 1 million Palestinians to flee.
The move was opposed by Slovenia’s main opposition party, the Slovenian Democratic Party, which had demanded a referendum on the issue. However, their bid was ultimately rejected by parliament.
With Slovenia’s recognition, the number of European Union member states that have formally acknowledged a Palestinian state has now grown to eight. This latest development underscores the shifting dynamics and increasing international momentum towards supporting Palestinian statehood aspirations.
