Malta says it will recognize the state of Palestine, joining France and
possibly Britain
[July 31, 2025]
By EDITH M. LEDERER
UNITED NATIONS (AP) — Canada and Malta announced Wednesday they will
recognize the state of Palestine in September, joining France and the
United Kingdom in stepping up pressure to end the nearly 80-year
Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney made the announcement after a
Cabinet meeting. Christopher Cutajar, the permanent secretary at Malta’s
Foreign Ministry, made his country's announcement earlier at the U.N.
General Assembly’s meeting on a two-state solution to the conflict which
was extended to a third day because of the high number of countries
wanting to speak.
Cutajar said Malta has long supported self-determination for the
Palestinian people, and “as responsible actors, we have a duty to work
to translate the concept of a two-state solution from theory into
practice.”
“It is for this reason that the government of Malta has taken the
principled decision to formally recognize the state of Palestine at the
upcoming U.N. General Assembly in September,” he said.
Carney said Canada will also make its announcement at the annual
gathering of world leaders which starts Sept. 23. He said the intention
is predicated on the Palestinian Authority “holding general elections in
2026 in which Hamas can play no part, and to demilitarize the
Palestinian state.” Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas made those
promises in a June 10 letter and it's unclear what more Carney is
seeking.
Malta says it wants a ‘lasting peace’ in Mideast
Malta’s Prime Minister Robert Abela earlier announced the decision by
his country, a former British colony, to recognize a Palestinian state
on Facebook, saying it is part of the nation’s efforts “for a lasting
peace in the Middle East.”
The Mediterranean island nation and European Union member will join more
than 145 countries, including over a dozen European nations, in
recognizing the state of Palestine.
French President Emmanuel Macron announced ahead of this week’s meeting
that his country will recognize the state of Palestine at the annual
gathering of world leaders at the 193-member General Assembly which
starts Sept. 23.
United Kingdom Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced Tuesday that
Britain would recognize the state of Palestine before September’s
meeting, but would refrain if Israel agrees to a ceasefire and long-term
peace process in the next eight weeks.
France and Britain are the biggest Western powers and, with Canada,
three members of the Group of Seven major industrialized nations have
now made such a pledge.
Israel opposes a two-state solution and is boycotting the meeting along
with its closest ally, the United States.
[to top of second column]
|
Canada Foreign Minister Anita Anand addresses the United Nations
General Assembly, Monday, July 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)
Israel’s U.N. ambassador, Danny Danon, on Tuesday sharply criticized
about 125 countries participating in the conference and new
recognitions of a Palestinian state, saying “there are those in the
world who fight terrorists and extremist forces and then there are
those who turn a blind eye to them or resort to appeasement.”
“While our hostages are languishing in Hamas terror tunnels in Gaza,
these countries choose to engage in hollow statements instead of
investing their efforts in their release,” Danon said. “This is
hypocrisy and a waste of time that legitimizes terrorism and
distances any chance of regional progress.”
Malta's Cutajar countered that "recognition is not merely symbolic –
it is a concrete step towards the realization of a just and lasting
peace.”
Quick action is urged
High-level representatives at the U.N. conference on Tuesday urged
Israel to commit to a Palestinian state and gave “unwavering
support” to a two-state solution, and they urged all countries that
haven't recognized the state of Palestine to do so quickly.
The seven-page “New York Declaration” sets out a phased plan to end
the Israel-Palestinian conflict and the ongoing war in Gaza. The
plan would culminate with an independent, demilitarized Palestine
living side by side peacefully with Israel, and their eventual
integration into the wider Mideast region.
A separate one-page statement titled the “New York Call” approved
late Tuesday by 15 Western nations says they have recognized,
“expressed or express the willingness or the positive consideration
... to recognize the state of Palestine, as an essential step
towards the two-state solution, and invite all countries that have
not done so to join this call.”
It included six that have recognized the state of Palestine and
nine, including Malta and Canada, that had not. The seven that still
haven't are Andorra, Australia, Finland, Luxembourg, New Zealand,
Portugal and San Marino.
Saudi Arabia's U.N. ambassador, Abdulaziz Alwasil, suspended the
meeting “until further notice” after the 128th and final speaker,
saying an outcome document has been sent to all 193 U.N. member
nations. States have until the beginning of September to endorse the
document.
All contents © copyright 2025 Associated Press. All rights reserved
 |
