Slovenia recognized a Palestinian state on Tuesday, following the recent steps of three other European countries. The government endorsed the motion to recognize Palestine last week, and sent the proposal to the parliament for final approval. Lawmakers voted overwhelmingly in favor of recognition, with 52 in favor and none against in the 90-seat parliament. Foreign Minister Tanja Fajon expressed the decision as a message of hope and peace, emphasizing the belief that a two-state solution is the path to lasting peace in the Middle East. Slovenia’s decision came after Spain, Norway, and Ireland also recognized a Palestinian state, a move that was condemned by Israel.
Previously, only seven members of the European Union had officially recognized a Palestinian state, with five being former East bloc countries that announced recognition in 1988, as well as Cyprus. Sweden recognized Palestine in 2014. Prime Minister Robert Golob spoke to lawmakers prior to the vote, emphasizing the importance of acting on the duty to recognize Palestine and evoking Slovenia’s own history of seeking independence. The ruling coalition in Slovenia’s assembly is led by Golob, who has supported recognition. The main opposition party, the Slovenian Democratic Party, opposes recognition and had previously demanded a referendum on the issue, which was eventually rejected by parliament.
Slovenia began the recognition process in May but had initially stated it would wait for the situation in the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza to improve. Golob explained that he decided to speed up the process in response to Israel’s attacks on Gaza, leading to over 1 million Palestinians fleeing. The war began with a Hamas-led attack in October, which resulted in thousands of deaths. The Health Ministry in Gaza reported that more than 36,000 Palestinians had been killed by Israel’s air and land attacks, with no distinction between combatants and civilians. The decision by Slovenia to recognize Palestine reflects a growing global trend, with over 140 countries now recognizing a Palestinian state.
Golob has emphasized the significance of the recognition of Palestine, citing Slovenia’s own historical struggle for independence. The move towards recognition was seen as a formality due to the ruling coalition’s comfortable majority in the assembly. The decision to recognize Palestine is viewed as a step towards supporting a two-state solution in the Middle East and promoting peace in the region. Despite opposition from some political parties, the recognition reflects Slovenia’s commitment to working towards the security and stability of both Palestinians and Israelis. Slovenia’s decision to recognize Palestine aligns with the growing global recognition of a Palestinian state and supports the idea of coexistence and peace in the Middle East.
