Slovenia officially recognized Palestine as an independent state after parliament issued a decree on this matter on Tuesday (4/6/2024). Slovenia has become the latest European country to recognize independent Palestine in response to Israel's increasingly brutal aggression in the Gaza Strip.
A total of 52 out of a total of 90 members of parliament supported a government-sponsored decree to recognize a Palestinian state. The vote on this decree went on for six chaotic and fierce hours. The Palestinian flag was also seen flying in front of the Slovenian parliament building after the voting was completed.
"Today's recognition of Palestine as a sovereign and independent state gives hope to the Palestinian people in the West Bank and Gaza," wrote Slovenian Prime Minister Robert Golob in a post on X after the voting was over.
With the decree, Slovenia recognizes a Palestinian state in areas designated by a 1967 UN resolution or based on a future peace agreement reached by the two sides. Nearly 60 percent of Slovenians support recognition of a Palestinian state, while 20 percent oppose it, according to a poll by daily newspaper Dnevik in April of 600 people.
Slovenia's decision will certainly make Israel even more angry and cornered. Because, before Slovenia, 3 European countries, namely Spain, Ireland and Norway, had already recognized the Palestinian state last week. Spain and Norway stated that this recognition was a historical milestone and to encourage permanent Israeli-Palestinian peace. Ireland even stated that it would immediately appoint an ambassador to serve in Palestine after official recognition.
This step increases the total number to 145 of the 193 UN member states that have recognized Palestine.
Prime Minister Robert Golob said Slovenia's recognition of a Palestinian state was a hope for the people of Gaza.
“Today's recognition of the sovereignty and independence of the Palestinian state sends hope to Palestinians in the West Bank and in Gaza,” Golob said in X.
Before officially declaring this recognition, Golob also compared the fate of Slovenia with Palestine. Golob said that Slovenian people had dreamed of independence for 1.000 years and only achieved it 33 years ago.
“Unfortunately, the Palestinian people have not received these rights,” he said.
