Slovenian Parliament Approves Recognition of Independent Palestinian State

Following in the footsteps of Spain, Ireland, and Norway, the Slovenian Parliament, by a majority vote, approved the recognition of an independent Palestinian state on Tuesday. In a move expected to anger Israel, 52 members of the parliament out of 90 voted in favor of the decision to recognize the state of Palestine. The Slovenian foreign ministry stated on the platform "X": "On June 4, 2024, Slovenia officially recognized Palestine as an independent and sovereign state." Foreign Minister Tanja Fajon confirmed that Slovenia's decision "is a message of hope and peace," adding, "We believe that the two-state solution is the only way to achieve lasting peace in the Middle East." The Israeli government, led by Benjamin Netanyahu, opposes efforts to recognize the state of Palestine. Approximately 144 countries out of the 193 member states of the United Nations recognize the state of Palestine, with most countries in the Global South as well as Russia, China, and India acknowledging Palestine as a state.