Belgium to Recognize Palestine at UN General Assembly Amid Rising Support from Western Nations

Belgium's Foreign Minister Maxime Prévot announced that the country will officially recognize the state of Palestine during the upcoming United Nations General Assembly meeting, scheduled for September 9 to 23. This decision places Belgium among several Western countries that have pledged recognition of Palestine as a sovereign state, including France, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Portugal, all of whom made similar announcements in July. The initiative to recognize Palestine is seen as a critical step towards pressuring Israel to facilitate a ceasefire in the ongoing conflict in the Gaza Strip. Currently, Palestine holds recognition from 147 out of 193 UN member states, primarily those in Asia, Africa, Eastern Europe, and Latin America, with a significant lack of support from Western nations. In recent years, there has been a noticeable shift among certain Western countries regarding the recognition of Palestine. For instance, Spain made the decision to acknowledge Palestine as a state in light of the renewed hostilities in Gaza. In contrast, Italy remains firm in its stance against recognition, as Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni expressed that the current circumstances do not warrant such a move. Despite this, Italy maintains a consular office in Jerusalem to manage its diplomatic relations with Palestinian authorities. As the September meetings approach, the recognition of Palestine by Western countries continues to spark debates about the broader implications for international relations, especially concerning the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The increasing support for Palestine may be viewed as a burgeoning shift in the diplomatic landscape following years of stalemate and strife in the region. The outcome of these discussions at the UN assembly could lead to significant changes in how Western nations interact with both Palestine and Israel going forward. Related Sources: • Source 1 • Source 2