Slovenia's government recognizes Palestinian state, needs parliamentary approval

Slovenia moved closer to Palestinian statehood recognition as its government on Thursday backed the move, which still needs the approval of the country’s parliament.

To mark the occasion, the Palestinian flag was raised alongside the flags of Slovenia and the EU in front of the government’s building in downtown Ljubljana.

“Today, the government has decided to recognize Palestine as an independent and sovereign state,” Slovenian Prime Minister Robert Golob said, two days after similar declarations by Spain, Ireland, and Norway took effect.

The move is part of a wider effort by countries to coordinate pressure on Israel to end the conflict in Gaza.

Golob also called for the immediate cessation of hostilities between Israel and Hamas in Gaza and the release of all hostages.

“This is the message of peace,” he said.

Slovenian Foreign Minister Tanja Fajon said, “The recognition of Palestine is the only way for the two countries and peoples to coexist in peace. The number of like-minded European countries is growing, which is a clear sign that the EU is assuming a more active role in the resolution of this conflict.”

The Slovenian Foreign Ministry, in its statement posted on X, noted that the recognition comes as the country holds one of 10 permanent seats on the UN Security Council.

As part of its statehood recognition drive, the Palestinian Authority has sought full UN membership, a move which needs the support of the 15-member UNSC.

Israel's response to the Slovenia

Israel’s Foreign Minister Israel Katz slammed the move, charging that in the aftermath of the October 7 attack, it “rewards Hamas for murder, rape, mutilation of bodies, beheading of babies, and strengthens the Iranian axis of evil, while damaging the close friendship between the Slovenian and Israeli people.

“I hope the Slovenian Parliament rejects this recommendation,” he wrote in a post on X.

Of the 27 members of the European Union, Sweden, Cyprus, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Poland, Slovakia, Romania. and Bulgaria have already recognized a Palestinian state. Malta has said it could follow soon.

Britain and Australia have said they are also considering recognition, but France has said now is not the time.

Germany joined Israel’s staunchest ally, the United States, in rejecting a unilateral approach, insisting that a two-state solution can only be achieved through dialogue.

Denmark’s parliament on Tuesday voted down a bill to recognize a Palestinian state.

Until recently, Norway, which chairs the international donor group for the Palestinians, had followed the US position, but it lost confidence in this strategy.

Israel has been fighting against Hamas, which rules Gaza, since the terrorist group’s invasion of Israel, in which 1,200 people were killed and 252 others seized as hostages, of whom 125 remain in captivity in Gaza.

The Hamas-run Gaza health authorities say more than 36,000 Palestinians have been killed in the war over the past seven months, of which it has verified close to 25,000 deaths. Israel has said that some 14,000 of the fatalities were Hamas fighters.