Luxembourg announces intention to recognize Palestinian state

(Web Desk): European country Luxembourg has announced its intention to recognize the State of Palestine, becoming the latest Western nation to take such a step. A final decision will be made after consultations with other countries at the opening of the UN General Assembly on September 23, according to a report by The New Arab.

Luxembourg has long supported a two-state solution to the Middle East conflict, but until now had refrained from formally recognizing Palestinian sovereignty.

According to local media, Luxembourg’s Prime Minister Luc Frieden and Foreign Minister Xavier Bettel have announced the formation of a parliamentary commission to deliberate on the matter.

Luxembourg is now the seventh Western country to announce plans to recognize Palestine, following France, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, Belgium, and Malta.

Portugal has also stated that it is considering recognizing Palestine and has begun consultations with other political parties and the country’s president on the matter.

Israel is reportedly concerned that several countries may move to recognize Palestine during the upcoming UN General Assembly session.

It’s worth noting that the United States strongly opposes the recognition of Palestine by European nations.

Currently, 149 out of 193 UN member states have recognized Palestine as a sovereign state.

Meanwhile, according to Turkey’s state-run news agency Anadolu, the Palestinian government welcomed Luxembourg’s announcement and called on other countries to follow suit.

In a statement, the Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs praised Prime Minister Luc Frieden and Foreign Minister Xavier Bettel, calling their position a “brave stance” that aligns with international law and supports peace efforts based on the two-state solution.

The ministry urged countries that have not yet recognized Palestine to do so immediately, stating that such steps would help end the war and strengthen global consensus in favor of peace.