Sweden’s center-left government will recognize the state of Palestine after Sweden’s Prime Minister Stefan Lofven confirmed the designation in his inaugural speech on Friday.
In 2012, the U.N. General Assembly approved the de facto recognition of the sovereign state of Palestine. However, the European Union and most EU countries haven’t given the same recognition.
Sweden marks the first major European country and member of the EU to do so. Hungary, Poland, and Slovakia recognized Palestine in the past, but they did so before joining the EU.
Currently more than 130 countries recognize a Palestinian state.
Prime Minister Lofven said in his speech, “The conflict between Israel and Palestine can only be solved with a two-state solution, negotiated in accordance with international law.” He elaborated that peace requires mutual recognition and co-existence, and then announced his country’s formal recognition.
Sweden plays a key role in EU policy, so this action might lead other countries to consider doing the same. However, Lofven’s minority government may not have as much power as previous ones. Lofven’s government is expected to be weak since it holds only 138 seats in Parliament, which is 37 seats short of a majority.
The recognition is especially important given the high international tensions from the recent fighting in Gaza and the civilian deaths it has caused. Furthermore, the Palestinians are currently urging the U.N. to pass a resolution that would impose a two-year deadline for Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territories and East Jerusalem.
Israel, the United States, and the EU itself are currently criticizing Sweden for the recognition. These governments believe an independent Palestinian state should only form through a negotiated process.
The Palestinians have sought after an independent, sovereign state in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem as its capital, and the Gaza Strip for decades.
More than 20 years of on-off peace talks between Palestine and Israel have failed to produce a permanent settlement, and current negotiations on a two-state solution are currently suspended.