More European Nations Threaten To Join The United Kingdom And Sweden In Recognizing Palestinian Statehood

Over the course of this year, the United Nations have debated and bickered about on recognizing the statehood of Palestine. The Inquisitr reported on the latest news pertaining to this world topic on who would be for or against such recognition. Just recently, Sweden officially announced their recognition of a Palestinian Statehood back in October. However, the biggest surprise came before Sweden’s recognition from the United Kingdom. The U.K. is considered a friend to Israel but they too voted to recognized a Palestinian statehood.

Now there are reports coming in that several European countries might be joining them but they are using their vote as a threat. This is considered a power move because it is reported said threat is directed towards the United States in forcing them to resume peace talks with Israel.

According to an article by The Wall Street Journal and Times of Israel, a list of countries in Europe have made it clear that if peace talks between Israel and the United States do not resume, they will recognize Palestine as a state. The list however did not give specific countries who are threatening but it did state that some of them are close allies to the U.S. A senior European official verified this in the following statement.

“We’re not going to wait forever. Other European countries are poised to follow Sweden.”

U.S. officials who were cited in the report include U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry who met with Arab and Palestinian leaders to discuss the ongoing violence in Jerusalem as well as the deadlocked peace process. Federica Mogherini, the European Union’s new foreign affairs chief, made it clear that there was a real “urgency” to pick up and advance the peace process.

“The risk is that if we do not move forward on the political track, we will go back… again to violence. That’s why I see the urgency in moving forward.”

On the part of the Palestinian territories, they are set to submit a draft resolution to the UN Security Council later this month. They are calling for Israel to withdraw to the lines that were established before 1967. It is however expected that the U.S. will veto this move. Wassel Abu Yusef, an official for the Palestine Liberation Organization, responded by stating that even though the U.S. vetoed the Palestinian territories’ resolution, they are not providing any other resolutions whatsoever.

No matter what direction this situation is going, it seems that Federica Mogherini is intent on recognizing the Palestinian state. It is also reported that she wants it done during her term of authority in the following statement.

“What’s important for me is not whether other countries, be they European or not, recognize Palestine. I’d be happy if, during my mandate, the Palestinian state existed.”

What do you think about other European countries using their vote favoring a Palestinian statehood to force the United States to continue peace talks with Israel? Do you find it tactical or cowardly?

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