As of September 2025, the State of Palestine is recognized as a sovereign state by 157 of the 193 member states of the United Nations (UN), or approximately 81% of all UN members. [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] It has been a non-member observer state of the UN General Assembly since November 2012. [6] [7] This limited status is largely due to the fact that the United States, a permanent member of the UN Security Council with veto power, has consistently used its veto or threatened to do so to block Palestine's full UN membership. [8] [9] Palestine is recognized by 4 out of the 5 permanent members of the UN Security Council, which are China, France, Russia, and the United Kingdom, leaving the United States as the only permanent member not to recognize Palestine. [10] [11]
The State of Palestine was officially declared by the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) on 15 November 1988, claiming sovereignty over the internationally recognized Palestinian territories: the West Bank (which includes East Jerusalem) and the Gaza Strip. By the end of 1988, the Palestinian state was recognized by 78 countries. [12] [13]
In an attempt to solve the decades-long Israeli–Palestinian conflict, the Oslo Accords were signed between Israel and the PLO in 1993 and 1995, creating the Palestinian Authority (PA) as a self-governing interim administration in the Gaza Strip and around 40% of the West Bank. [14] After the assassination of Yitzhak Rabin and Benjamin Netanyahu's ascension to power, negotiations between Israel and the PA stalled, which led the Palestinians to pursue international recognition of the State of Palestine without Israeli acquiescence.
In 2011, the State of Palestine was admitted into UNESCO. In 2012, it was accepted as an observer state of the UN General Assembly with the votes of 138 UN member states agreeing to Resolution 67/19 and the PA began to officially use the name "State of Palestine" for all purposes. In December 2014, the International Criminal Court recognized Palestine as a state without prejudice to any future judicial determinations on this issue. [15] [16]
Many countries support a two-state solution to the conflict. Fourteen of the nineteen member countries of the G20 (Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, India, Indonesia, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Turkey and the United Kingdom), plus permanent invitee Spain, have recognized Palestine as a state; the other five (Germany, Italy, Japan, South Korea and the United States) do not recognize Palestine.
On 22 November 1974, United Nations General Assembly Resolution 3236 recognized the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination, national independence and sovereignty in Palestine. It also recognized the PLO as the sole legitimate representative of the Palestinian people, and accorded it observer status in the United Nations. The designation "Palestine" for the PLO was adopted by the United Nations in 1988 in acknowledgment of the Palestinian declaration of independence, but the proclaimed state still has no formal status within the system.
Shortly after the 1988 declaration, the State of Palestine was recognized by many developing states in Africa and Asia, and from communist and non-aligned states. [17] [18] At the time, however, the United States was using its Foreign Assistance Act and other measures to discourage other countries and international organizations from extending recognition. [19] Although these measures were successful in many cases, [20] the Arab League and the Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC) immediately published statements of recognition of, support for, and solidarity with Palestine, which was accepted as a member state in both forums. [21] [22] [23]
In February 1989 at the United Nations Security Council, the PLO representative acknowledged that 94 states had recognized the new Palestinian state. [24] [25] It subsequently attempted to gain membership as a state in several agencies connected to the United Nations, but its efforts faced threats from the U.S. that it would withhold funding from any organization that admitted Palestine. [26] For example, in April of the same year, the PLO applied for membership as a state in the World Health Organization, an application that failed to produce a result after the U.S. informed the organization that it would withdraw funding if Palestine were admitted. [27] In May, a group of OIC members submitted to UNESCO an application for membership on behalf of Palestine, and listed a total of 91 states that had recognized the State of Palestine. [12]
In June 1989, the PLO submitted to the government of Switzerland letters of accession to the Geneva Conventions of 1949. However, Switzerland, as the depositary state, determined that because the question of Palestinian statehood had not been settled within the international community, it was therefore incapable of determining whether the letter constituted a valid instrument of accession. [27]
Due to the [uncertainty] within the international community as to the existence or the non-existence of a State of Palestine and as long as the issue has not been settled in an appropriate framework, the Swiss Government, in its capacity as depositary of the Geneva Conventions and their additional Protocols, is not in a position to decide whether this communication can be considered as an instrument of accession in the sense of the relevant provisions of the Conventions and their additional Protocols. [28]
Consequently, in November 1989, the Arab League proposed a General Assembly resolution to formally recognize the PLO as the government of an independent Palestinian state. The draft, however, was abandoned when the U.S. again threatened to cut off its financing for the United Nations should the vote go ahead. The Arab states agreed not to press the resolution, but demanded that the U.S. promise not to threaten the United Nations with financial sanctions again. [29]
Many of the early statements of recognition of the State of Palestine were termed ambiguously. [30] In addition, hesitation from others did not necessarily mean that these nations did not regard Palestine as a state. [27] This has seemingly resulted in confusion regarding the number of states that have officially recognized the state declared in 1988. Numbers reported in the past are often conflicting, [31] with figures as high as 130 being seen frequently. [20] [32] In July 2011, in an interview with Haaretz , Palestinian ambassador to the United Nations, Riyad Mansour claimed that 122 states had so far extended formal recognition. [33] At the end of the month, the PLO published a paper on why the world's governments should recognize the State of Palestine and listed the 122 countries that had already done so. [34] By the end of September the same year, Mansour claimed the figure had reached 139. [35]
Since the outbreak of the Gaza war, several Western and Caribbean states began recognizing Palestine. [36] In May 2024, Ireland, Norway, and Spain recognized Palestine as a coordinated effort. [37] In an effort led by France, [38] [39] [40] several more Western states recognized Palestine just before the general debate of the eightieth session of the United Nations General Assembly in September 2025. [41] This move included recognition from G7 states for the first time (Canada, France, and the United Kingdom) [42] and was described as a "historic diplomatic shift". [43] [44]
Between the end of the Six-Day War and the Oslo Accords, no Israeli government proposed a Palestinian state. During Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government of 1996–1999, he accused the two previous governments of Rabin and Peres of bringing closer to realization what he claimed to be the "danger" of a Palestinian state, and stated that his main policy goal was to ensure that the Palestinian Authority did not evolve beyond an autonomy. [45]
In June 2003, Ariel Sharon was the first Israeli Prime Minister to proclaim that a Palestinian state was a possibility. Sharon addressed "the possibility of the establishment of a Palestinian state with temporary borders, if conditions permit" and claimed that interim Palestinian state would be "completely demilitarised, and this nation will be the home of the Palestinian diaspora and Palestinian refugees will not be allowed into Israeli territory." [46]
The government headed by Ehud Olmert repeated the same objective. Following the inauguration of the Netanyahu government in 2009, the government again claimed that a Palestinian state posed a danger for Israel. [47] The government position changed, however, following American pressure from the Obama administration, and on 14 June 2009, Netanyahu for the first time made a speech in which he supported the notion of a demilitarized and territorially reduced Palestinian state. [48] This position met some criticism for its lack of commitment on the territories to be ceded to the Palestinian state in the future. Netanyahu in February 2023 said "I'm certainly willing to have them have all the powers that they need to govern themselves, but none of the powers that can threaten us, and this means that Israel should have the overriding security responsibility." [49]
However, in 2025, amid the ongoing Gaza war and multiple countries announcing plans to recognize a Palestinian state, Netanyahu backtracked on his stance, vowing that a Palestinian state "will not be established" in a speech. [50]
Israel has refused to accept the 1967 borders, which Israeli military experts have argued are strategically indefensible. [51] It also opposes the Palestinian plan of approaching the UN General Assembly on the matter of statehood, as it claims it does not honour the Oslo Accords agreement in which both sides agreed not to pursue unilateral moves. [52]
After a two-year impasse in negotiations with Israel, the Palestinian Authority began a diplomatic campaign to gain recognition for the State of Palestine on the borders prior to the Six-Day War, with East Jerusalem as its capital. [61] The efforts, which began in late 2009, gained widespread attention in September 2011, when President Mahmoud Abbas submitted an application to the United Nations to accept Palestine as a member state. This would have constituted collective recognition of the State of Palestine, which would have allowed its government to pursue legal claims against other states in international courts. [62] [63]
In order for a state to gain membership in the General Assembly, its application must have the support of two-thirds of member states with a prior recommendation for admission from the Security Council. This requires the absence of a veto from any of the Security Council's five permanent members. [62] At the prospect of a veto from the United States, Palestinian leaders signalled that they might opt instead for a more limited upgrade to "non-member state" status, which requires only a simple majority in the General Assembly but provides the Palestinians with the recognition they desired.
The campaign, dubbed "Palestine 194", [64] was supported by the Arab League in May 2011, [65] and was officially confirmed by the PLO on 26 June. [66] The decision was labelled by the Israeli government as a unilateral step, while the Palestinian government countered that it was essential to overcoming the current impasse. Several other countries—such as Germany and Canada—also denounced the decision and called for a prompt return to negotiations. However, many others—such as Norway and Russia—endorsed the plan, as did Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, who stated: "UN members are entitled whether to vote for or against the Palestinian statehood recognition at the UN." [67]
Diplomatic efforts to gain support for the bid gained momentum following a succession of endorsements from South America in early 2011. [68] [69] [ failed verification ] High-level delegations led by Yasser Abed Rabbo, Riyad al-Maliki, Saeb Erekat, Nabil Shaath and Riyad Mansour paid visits to many states. Palestinian ambassadors, assisted by those of other Arab states, were charged with enlisting the support of the governments to which they were accredited. [69] During the lead-up to the vote, Russia, China, and Spain publicly pledged their support for the Palestinian bid, [70] [71] as did inter-governmental organizations such as the African Union, [72] and the Non-Aligned Movement. [73]
Israel took steps to counter the initiative, [74] and Germany, Italy, Canada and the United States announced publicly that they would vote against the resolution. [69] Israeli and U.S. diplomats began a campaign pressuring many countries to oppose or abstain from the vote. [69] However, because of the "automatic majority" enjoyed by the Palestinians in the General Assembly, [75] the Netanyahu administration stated that it did not expect to prevent a resolution from passing should it go ahead. [74] [76] In August, Haaretz quoted the Israeli ambassador to the United Nations, Ron Prosor, as stating that Israel would be unable to block a resolution at the General Assembly by September. "The maximum that we can hope to gain is for a group of states who will abstain or be absent during the vote", wrote Prosor. "Only a few countries will vote against the Palestinian initiative." [77]
Instead, the Israeli government focused on obtaining a "moral majority" of major democratic powers, in an attempt to diminish the weight of the vote. [78] [79] Considerable weight was placed on the position of the European Union, [80] which had not yet been announced. EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton stated that it was likely to depend on the wording of the resolution. [81] At the end of August, Israel's defence minister Ehud Barak said that "it is very important that all the players come up with a text that will emphasize the quick return to negotiations, without an effort to impose pre-conditions on the sides." [82]
Efforts from both Israel and the U.S. also focused on pressuring the Palestinian leadership to abandon its plans and return to negotiations. [80] In the U.S., Congress passed a bill denouncing the initiative and calling on the Obama administration to veto any resolution that would recognize a Palestinian state declared outside of an agreement negotiated by the two parties. [83] A similar bill was passed in the Senate, which also threatened a withdrawal of aid to the West Bank. [84] [85] In late August, another congressional bill was introduced which proposes to block U.S. government funding for United Nations entities that support Palestinian membership in the UN. [86] Several top U.S. officials, including ambassador to the United Nations Susan Rice and consul-general in Jerusalem Daniel Rubinstein, made similar threats. [87] [88] In the same month, it was reported that the Israeli Ministry of Finance was withholding its monthly payments to the PNA. [89] Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman warned that if Palestine took unilateral action, Israel would consider the Oslo Accords null and void, [80] and would break off relations with the PA. [82]
On 11 July 2011, the Quartet met to discuss a return to negotiations, but the meeting produced no result. [33] President Mahmoud Abbas claimed that he would suspend the bid and return to negotiations if the Israelis agreed to the 1967 borders and ceased the expansion of settlements in the West Bank.
The PNA's campaign saw an increasing level of support in grass-roots activism. Avaaz began an online petition urging all United Nations members to endorse the bid to admit Palestine; it reportedly attained 500,000 e-signatures in its first four days. [91] OneVoice Palestine launched a domestic campaign in partnership with local news agencies, with the aim of getting the involvement and support of Palestinian citizens. [92] Overseas, campaigns were launched in several nations, calling on their governments to vote "yes" in the resolution. [93] [94] On 7 September, a group of Palestinian activists under the banner "Palestine: State No. 194" staged a demonstration outside the United Nations' office in Ramallah. [95] During the demonstration, they submitted to the office a letter addressed to Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, urging him to "exert all possible efforts toward the achievement of the Palestinian people's just demands". The following day, Ban told reporters: "I support ... the statehood of Palestinians; an independent, sovereign state of Palestine. It has been long overdue", but he also stated that "recognition of a state is something to be determined by the member states." [96]
Other United Nations organs had previously expressed readiness to see a Palestinian state. In April 2011, the UN's co-ordinator for the Middle East peace process issued a report on the Palestinian Authority's state-building progress, describing "aspects of its administration as sufficient for an independent state". [97] It echoed a similar assessment published the week prior by the International Monetary Fund. [98] The World Bank released a report in September 2010 that found the Palestinian Authority "well-positioned to establish a state" at any point in the near future. However, the report highlighted that, unless private-sector growth in the Palestinian economy was stimulated, a Palestinian state would remain donor dependent. [99]
United Nations Security Council resolution vote on the recommendation to the United Nations General Assembly regarding the admission of Palestine (State of Palestine) as a member of the United Nations. [100] [101] [102] ![]() Date: 18 April 2024 | ||
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In favour (12) | Abstentions (2) | Against (1) |
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | ![]() ![]() | ![]() |
Bold: Denotes the permanent members of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC).
P: Malta was the president of the United Nations Security Council when the vote was conducted.
D: Algeria submitted the draft resolution under consideration. [102]
V: As a permanent UNSC member, the United States exercised its veto power, which prevents adoption of the proposal by the UNSC as a body.
During September 2012, Palestine decided to pursue an upgrade in status from "observer entity" to "non-member observer state". On 27 November of the same year, it was announced that the appeal had been made officially and would be put to a vote in the General Assembly on 29 November, where the status upgrade was expected to be supported by a majority of states. In addition to granting Palestine "non-member observer state status", the draft resolution "expresses the hope that the Security Council will consider favourably the application submitted on 23 September 2011 by the State of Palestine for admission to full membership in the United Nations, endorses the two state solution based on the pre-1967 borders, and stresses the need for an immediate resumption of negotiations between the two parties."
On 29 November 2012, in a 138–9 vote (with 41 abstaining) General Assembly resolution 67/19 passed, upgrading Palestine to "non-member observer state" status in the United Nations. [103] [104] The new status equated Palestine's with that of the Holy See. The change in status was described by The Independent as "de facto recognition of the sovereign state of Palestine". [105] Voting "no" were Israel, Canada, the Czech Republic, the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, Nauru, Palau, Panama and the United States.
The vote was an important benchmark for the partially recognized State of Palestine and its citizens, while it was a diplomatic setback for Israel and the United States. Status as an observer state in the UN allows the State of Palestine to join treaties and specialized UN agencies, [106] the Law of the Seas treaty, and the International Criminal Court. It permits Palestine to pursue legal rights over its territorial waters and air space as a sovereign state recognized by the UN, and allows the Palestinian people the right to sue for sovereignty over their territory in the International Court of Justice and to bring "crimes against humanity" and war-crimes charges, including that of unlawfully occupying the territory of State of Palestine, against Israel in the International Criminal Court. [107] [108]
The UN has, after the resolution was passed, permitted Palestine to title its representative office to the UN as "The Permanent Observer Mission of the State of Palestine to the United Nations", [109] seen by many as a reflection of the UN's de facto position of recognizing the State of Palestine's sovereignty under international law, [103] and Palestine started to re-title its name accordingly on postal stamps, official documents and passports. [104] [110] The Palestinian authorities also instructed its diplomats to officially represent the "State of Palestine", as opposed to the "Palestine National Authority". [104] Additionally, on 17 December 2012, UN Chief of Protocol Yeocheol Yoon decided that "the designation of "State of Palestine" shall be used by the Secretariat in all official United Nations documents", [58] recognizing the "State of Palestine" as the official name of the Palestinian nation.
On 26 September 2013 at the United Nations, Mahmoud Abbas was given the right to sit in the General Assembly's beige chair which is reserved for heads of state waiting to take the podium and address the General Assembly. [111]
The effort to secure full UN membership was renewed in 2024 during the Gaza war, [112] with the United Nations Security Council holding a vote on the topic in April. [113] Although the vote had a majority of 12 in favour with two abstentions, the United States voted against and therefore vetoed the measure. [100]
On 10 May 2024, the UN General Assembly passed a resolution that recognized that Palestine met the requirements for UN membership, and requested that the Security Council reconsider admitting the state. It also granted Palestine additional rights at the UN, including being seated with member states, the right to introduce proposals and agenda items, and participate in committees, but did not grant them the right to vote. [114] [115]
157 of the 193 United Nations (UN) member states have recognized the State of Palestine.
States whose recognition of Palestine is disputed [116] |
Name | Date of recognition | Diplomatic relations | Relevant membership, further details |
---|---|---|---|
![]() | 15 November 1988 [117] | Yes [118] | Arab League, African Union (AU), OIC; Algeria–Palestine relations |
![]() | 15 November 1988 [117] | Yes [119] | Arab League, GCC, OIC; Bahrain–Palestine relations Further details Recognition extended by the State of Bahrain. |
![]() | 15 November 1988 [117] | Yes [120] | ASEAN, BRICS, G20, OIC; Indonesia–Palestine relations |
![]() | 15 November 1988 [117] | Yes | Arab League, OIC; Iraq–Palestine relations Further details Recognition extended by the Ba'athist Iraqi Republic. |
![]() | 15 November 1988 [117] | Yes [121] | Arab League, GCC, OIC; [122] Kuwait–Palestine relations |
![]() | 15 November 1988 [117] | Yes | Arab League, AU, OIC; Libya–Palestine relations Further details Recognition extended by the Great Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya. |
![]() | 15 November 1988 [117] | Yes | ASEAN, OIC; Malaysia–Palestine relations |
![]() | 15 November 1988 [117] | Yes | Arab League, AU, OIC |
![]() | 15 November 1988 [117] | Yes | Arab League, AU, OIC; [123] [124] Morocco–Palestine relations |
![]() | 15 November 1988 [117] | Yes | Arab League, AU, OIC; Palestine–Somalia relations Further details Recognition extended by the Somali Democratic Republic. |
![]() | 15 November 1988 [117] | Yes [125] | Arab League, AU, OIC; Palestine–Tunisia relations |
![]() | 15 November 1988 [117] | Yes [126] | G20, NATO, OIC, OTS; Palestine–Turkey relations |
![]() | 15 November 1988 [117] | Yes | Arab League, OIC; Palestine–Yemen relations Further details Recognition extended by both Democratic Yemen and the Yemen Arab Republic, prior to Yemeni unification. In a joint letter to the UN Secretary-General sent just prior to unification, the Ministers of Foreign affairs of North and South Yemen stated that "All treaties and agreements concluded between either the Yemen Arab Republic or the People's Democratic Republic of Yemen and other States and international organizations in accordance with international law which are in force on 22 May 1990 will remain in effect, and international relations existing on 22 May 1990 between the People's Democratic Republic of Yemen and the Yemen Arab Republic and other States will continue." [127] |
![]() | 16 November 1988 [117] | Yes [128] | OIC, SAARC; Afghanistan–Palestine relations Further details Recognition extended by the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan. |
![]() | 16 November 1988 [117] | Yes | OIC, SAARC; Bangladesh–Palestine relations |
![]() | 16 November 1988 [117] | Yes | Cuba–Palestine relations |
![]() | 16 November 1988 [117] | Yes | Arab League, OIC; Jordan–Palestine relations |
![]() | 16 November 1988 [117] | No | AU Further details Recognition extended by the Democratic Republic of Madagascar. |
![]() | 16 November 1988 [117] | Yes | — |
![]() | 16 November 1988 [117] | Yes | OIC, SAARC; Pakistan–Palestine relations |
![]() | 16 November 1988 [117] | Yes | Arab League, GCC, OIC; Palestine–Qatar relations |
![]() | 16 November 1988 [117] | Yes | Arab League, G20, GCC, OIC; Palestine–Saudi Arabia relations |
![]() | 16 November 1988 [117] | Yes | Arab League, BRICS, GCC, OIC; Palestine–United Arab Emirates relations |
![]() | 16 November 1988 [117] | Yes [129] | —, Palestine–Serbia relations Further details Recognition extended by the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (SFRY). Although the UN did not recognize the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (later renamed Serbia and Montenegro, itself to be succeeded by Serbia in 2006) as its exclusive successor, it claimed to be such and pledged to adhere to all ratifications, signatures and recognitions conducted by the SFRY. |
![]() | 16 November 1988 [117] | Yes | AU |
![]() | 17 November 1988 [117] | Yes [130] | NATO, OIC; Albania–Palestine relations Further details Recognition extended by the People's Socialist Republic of Albania. |
![]() | 17 November 1988 [117] | Yes | ASEAN, OIC; [131] Brunei–Palestine relations |
![]() | 17 November 1988 [117] | Yes | Arab League, AU, OIC; Djibouti–Palestine relations |
![]() | 17 November 1988 [117] | Yes | AU Further details Recognition extended by Mauritius as a Commonwealth realm. |
![]() | 17 November 1988 [117] | Yes | Arab League, AU, OIC; [132] Palestine–Sudan relations |
![]() | 18 November 1988 [117] | Yes | EU; Cyprus–Palestine relations Further details In January 2011, the Cypriot government reaffirmed its recognition of the Palestinian state in 1988. The government also added that any modifications to the borders from 1967 onwards would not be acknowledged until both countries reached a consensus. [133] |
![]() | 18 November 1988 [117] | Yes [134] | EU, NATO Further details The Czech Republic's predecessor, Czechoslovakia, recognized Palestine on 18 November 1988. [12] [117] The Czech government denies that it recognizes Palestine, arguing that its predecessor never formally recognized Palestine and that Palestine never met the formal conditions of statehood. [135] [136] Since the 2010s, the Czech government has repeatedly reiterated its non-recognition of a Palestinian state, as recently as 2025. [137] [136] [138] [139] However, certain academics and politicians contend that the Czech Republic continues to recognize Palestine. [137] |
![]() | 18 November 1988 [117] | Yes | EU, NATO; Palestine–Slovakia relations Further details Slovakia's predecessor, Czechoslovakia, recognized Palestine on 18 November 1988. [12] Following its dissolution, Slovakia reaffirmed its recognition of Palestine in 1993. [140] [141] |
![]() | 18 November 1988 [117] | Yes | Arab League, AU, BRICS, OIC; Egypt–Palestine relations |
![]() | 18 November 1988 [117] | Yes | AU, OIC |
![]() | 18 November 1988 [117] | Yes [142] | BRICS, G20, SAARC; India–Palestine relations |
![]() | 18 November 1988 [117] | Yes | AU, OIC; Nigeria–Palestine relations |
![]() | 18 November 1988 [117] | Yes | AU |
![]() | 18 November 1988 [117] | Yes | SAARC; Palestine–Sri Lanka relations |
![]() | 19 November 1988 [117] | Yes | AU; Namibia–Palestine relations Further details Namibia was established by the South West Africa People's Organization (SWAPO), which recognized the State of Palestine during its time as a UN observer entity. [143] |
![]() | 19 November 1988 [117] | Yes [144] | BRICS, CSTO, G20, UNSC (permanent); Palestine–Russia relations Further details Recognition extended as the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. President Dmitry Medvedev reconfirmed the position in January 2011. [70] |
![]() | 19 November 1988 [117] | Yes | CSTO; Belarus–Palestine relations Further details Recognition extended as the Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic. Belarus is the legal successor of the Byelorussian SSR and in the Constitution it states, "Laws, decrees and other acts which were applied in the territory of the Republic of Belarus prior to the entry into force of the present Constitution shall apply in the particular parts thereof that are not contrary to the Constitution of the Republic of Belarus." [145] |
![]() | 19 November 1988 [117] | Yes | —; Palestine–Ukraine relations Further details Recognition extended as the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic, of which Ukraine is the legal successor. The modern republic continues all "rights and duties pursuant to international agreements of Union SSR which do not contradict the Constitution of Ukraine and interests of the Republic". [146] |
![]() | 19 November 1988 [117] | Yes [147] | ASEAN; Palestine–Vietnam relations |
![]() | 20 November 1988 [117] | Yes | BRICS, G20, UNSC (permanent); China–Palestine relations Further details Under the One China principle, the State of Palestine also recognizes the People's Republic of China as the sole legitimate government of the Chinese state and does not recognize the legitimacy of the Republic of China on Taiwan. [148] |
![]() | 21 November 1988 [117] | Yes | AU, OIC; Burkina Faso–Palestine relations |
![]() | 21 November 1988 [117] | Yes | Arab League, AU, OIC; Comoros–Palestine relations Further details Recognition extended by the Federal and Islamic Republic of the Comoros. |
![]() | 21 November 1988 [117] | Yes | AU, OIC |
![]() | 21 November 1988 [117] | Yes | AU, OIC |
![]() | 21 November 1988 [117] | Yes | ASEAN Further details Recognition extended by the People's Republic of Kampuchea, the predecessor to modern Cambodia. Its civil-war rival, internationally recognized Democratic Kampuchea, announced its recognition three days prior. |
![]() | 21 November 1988 [117] | Yes | AU, OIC |
![]() | 22 November 1988 [117] | Yes [149] | — Further details Recognition extended by the Mongolian People's Republic. |
![]() | 22 November 1988 [117] | Yes | AU, OIC |
![]() | 23 November 1988 [117] | Yes | EU, NATO; Hungary–Palestine relations Further details Recognition extended by the Hungarian People's Republic. Since 2024, the Hungarian government has opposed recognition of Palestinian statehood. [116] [150] Agence France-Presse, CNN, and Deutsche Welle exclude Hungary from their lists of states that recognize Palestine. [116] [151] [152] However, certain sources contend that Hungary has not formally withdrawn its recognition of Palestine. [153] [154] |
![]() | 24 November 1988 [117] | Yes [155] | AU |
![]() | 24 November 1988 [117] | Yes | —, North Korea–Palestine relations |
![]() | 24 November 1988 [117] | Yes | AU, OIC |
![]() | 24 November 1988 [117] | Yes | EU, NATO; Palestine–Romania relations Further details Recognition extended by the Socialist Republic of Romania. |
![]() | 24 November 1988 [117] | Yes | AU; Palestine–Tanzania relations |
![]() | 25 November 1988 [117] | Yes | EU, NATO; Bulgaria–Palestine relations Further details Recognition extended by the People's Republic of Bulgaria. |
![]() | 28 November 1988 [117] | Yes | OIC, SAARC; Maldives–Palestine relations |
![]() | 29 November 1988 [117] | Yes | AU |
![]() | 29 November 1988 [117] | Yes [156] | AU, OIC |
![]() | 29 November 1988 [117] | Yes | AU; Palestine–Zimbabwe relations |
![]() | 1 December 1988 [117] | Yes | AU, OIC |
![]() | 2 December 1988 [117] | Yes [157] | ASEAN |
![]() | 3 December 1988 [117] | Yes [155] | AU, OIC |
![]() | 3 December 1988 [117] | Yes | AU, OIC |
![]() | 5 December 1988 [117] | Yes | AU Further details Recognition extended by the People's Republic of the Congo. |
![]() | 6 December 1988 [117] | Yes [158] | AU Further details Recognition extended by the People's Republic of Angola. |
![]() | 8 December 1988 [117] | Yes | AU, OIC Further details Recognition extended by the People's Republic of Mozambique. |
![]() | 10 December 1988 [117] | Yes [155] | AU |
![]() | 12 December 1988 [117] | Yes | AU, OIC |
![]() | 13 December 1988 [117] | Yes | Arab League, GCC, OIC; Oman–Palestine relations |
![]() | 14 December 1988 [117] | Yes | EU, NATO; Palestine–Poland relations Further details Recognition extended by the Polish People's Republic. |
![]() | 18 December 1988 [117] | No | AU Further details Recognition extended by the Republic of Zaire, which was ruled by Mobutu Sese Seko until his removal in 1997 when the state was succeeded by the Democratic Republic of the Congo during the First Congo War. |
![]() | 19 December 1988 [117] | Yes [159] | AU |
![]() | 19 December 1988 [117] | No | SAARC Further details Recognition extended by the Kingdom of Nepal. |
![]() | 22 December 1988 [117] | No | AU |
![]() | 23 December 1988 [117] | No | AU |
![]() | 25 December 1988 [117] | No | SAARC |
![]() | 2 January 1989 [117] | No | AU |
![]() | 4 February 1989 [117] | Yes | AU, BRICS; Ethiopia–Palestine relations Further details Recognition extended by the People's Democratic Republic of Ethiopia. |
![]() | 4 February 1989 [12] | Yes | BRICS, OIC; Iran–Palestine relations Further details Some documents list the date of Iran's recognition as 4 February 1988, but this predates the PLO's declaration of independence on 15 November 1988. [117] |
![]() | 12 May 1989 [117] | Yes | AU, OIC Further details Recognition extended by the People's Republic of Benin. |
![]() | 12 May 1989 [117] | Yes | AU; Kenya–Palestine relations |
![]() | May 1989 [117] | Yes [160] | AU |
![]() | 21 August 1989 [117] | Yes | MSG, PIF |
![]() | 4 September 1989 [117] | Yes [161] | ASEAN; Palestine–Philippines relations |
![]() | 1 July 1991 [117] | Yes [162] [163] | AU Further details Recognition extended as Swaziland. |
![]() | 6 April 1992 [117] | Yes [164] | CSTO, OIC, OTS; Kazakhstan–Palestine relations |
![]() | 15 April 1992 [117] | Yes [165] | OIC, OTS; Azerbaijan–Palestine relations |
![]() | 17 April 1992 [117] | Yes [166] [167] | OIC [168] |
![]() | 25 April 1992 [117] | Yes [169] | —; Georgia–Palestine relations |
![]() | 27 May 1992 [117] | Yes [170] | Bosnia and Herzegovina–Palestine relations Further details Recognition extended by the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina. |
![]() | 2 April 1994 [117] | Yes [171] [172] | CSTO, OIC |
![]() | 25 September 1994 [117] | Yes [173] | OIC, OTS |
![]() | 4 October 1994 [174] | Yes [159] [174] | MSG, PIF Further details In July 2025, Agence France-Presse removed Papua New Guinea from its list of states recognizing Palestine based on comments it received from the Papua New Guinean foreign secretary and foreign minister. [116] The Australian Broadcasting Corporation has also reported that "Papua New Guinea [does] not recognise Palestinian statehood". [175] |
![]() | 15 February 1995 [117] | Yes [176] | AU, BRICS, G20; Palestine–South Africa relations |
![]() | November 1995 [117] | Yes [177] [178] | CSTO, OIC, OTS; Kyrgyzstan–Palestine relations |
![]() | 23 October 1998 [117] | Yes [179] | AU |
![]() | 1 March 2004 [117] | Yes [180] [181] | — |
![]() | 25 March 2005 [182] | Yes [182] | Mercosur, OAS Further details On 28 January 2011, Paraguay's Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a written reaffirmation of its government's recognition of the State of Palestine. The statement noted that the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two governments in 2005 had implied mutual recognition. [182] |
![]() | 24 July 2006 [117] | Yes [183] | NATO; Montenegro–Palestine relations |
![]() | 5 February 2008 [117] | Yes [159] | OAS |
![]() | 30 November 2008 [117] | Yes [184] | Arab League, OIC; Lebanon–Palestine relations Further details Date given is that of first official recognition. In Palestine's application to UNESCO in May 1989, Lebanon was listed as having recognized the State of Palestine, but without a date. [12] The list was submitted without objection from Lebanon, but later sources have shown that official recognition was not accorded until 2008. [185] At that time, the Lebanese cabinet approved the establishment of full diplomatic relations with the State of Palestine, but did not set a date for when this was to occur. On 11 August 2011, the cabinet agreed to implement its earlier decision and Abbas formally inaugurated his government's embassy in Beirut on 16 August. [186] |
![]() | 1 December 2008 [117] | Yes | AU, OIC |
![]() | 27 April 2009 [117] | Yes | —, Palestine–Venezuela relations |
![]() | 15 July 2009 [117] | Yes [159] | OAS |
![]() | 1 December 2010 [187] [188] | Yes [187] | BRICS, G20, Mercosur, OAS; Brazil–Palestine relations |
![]() | 6 December 2010 [117] | Yes [189] [190] [191] | G20, Mercosur, OAS; Argentina–Palestine relations [68] |
![]() | 17 December 2010 [117] | Yes [159] | Mercosur, OAS; Bolivia–Palestine relations |
![]() | 24 December 2010 [192] | Yes [193] | OAS; Ecuador–Palestine relations |
![]() | 7 January 2011 [117] | Yes [194] | OAS; Chile–Palestine relations |
![]() | 13 January 2011 [117] | Yes [159] | CARICOM, OAS, OIC [193] |
![]() | 24 January 2011 [117] | Yes [193] | OAS; Palestine–Peru relations |
![]() | 26 January 2011 [117] | No | CARICOM, OAS, OIC |
![]() | 15 March 2011 [195] | Yes [159] | Mercosur, OAS; Palestine–Uruguay relations |
![]() | 3 May 2011 [117] | Yes [196] | AU |
![]() | 14 July 2011 [117] | Yes [197] | AU |
![]() | 18 July 2011 [117] | Yes [198] | Arab League, OIC; Palestine–Syria relations Further details Recognition extended by Ba'athist Syria. |
![]() | 19 July 2011 [117] | No | AU [62] |
![]() | 25 August 2011 [117] | Yes [199] | OAS; El Salvador–Palestine relations |
![]() | 26 August 2011 [117] | Yes [199] [200] [201] | OAS; Honduras–Palestine relations |
![]() | 29 August 2011 [117] | Yes [159] | CARICOM, OAS |
![]() | 9 September 2011 [117] | Yes | CARICOM, OAS [202] |
![]() | 19 September 2011 [117] | Yes [203] | CARICOM, OAS [206] |
![]() | 22 September 2011 [117] | Yes [159] | CARICOM, OAS |
![]() | 25 September 2011 [117] | Yes [159] | CARICOM, OAS |
![]() | 15 December 2011 [117] | Yes | EFTA, NATO; Iceland–Palestine relations |
![]() | 18 January 2012 [117] | Yes [207] | ASEAN; Palestine–Thailand relations |
![]() | 9 April 2013 [117] | No | OAS |
![]() | 27 September 2013 [117] | Yes [159] | CARICOM, OAS |
![]() | 30 October 2014 [117] | Yes | EU, NATO; Palestine–Sweden relations |
![]() | 14 September 2015 [117] | Yes [159] | CARICOM, OAS |
![]() | 3 August 2018 [117] | Yes | OAS |
![]() | 29 July 2019 [117] | Yes [208] | CARICOM, OAS |
![]() | 19 April 2024 [209] | Yes [159] | CARICOM, OAS |
![]() | 22 April 2024 [209] | No | CARICOM, OAS |
![]() | 2 May 2024 [209] | Yes [210] | CARICOM, OAS |
![]() | 7 May 2024 [209] | No | CARICOM, OAS |
![]() | 28 May 2024 [37] | Yes [211] | EU; Ireland–Palestine relations |
![]() | 28 May 2024 [37] | Yes [212] | EFTA, NATO; Norway–Palestine relations |
![]() | 28 May 2024 [37] | Yes [213] | EU, NATO; Palestine–Spain relations |
![]() | 4 June 2024 [214] | Yes [214] | EU, NATO; Palestine–Slovenia relations |
![]() | 21 June 2024 [215] | Yes [215] | CSTO; Armenia–Palestine relations |
![]() | 5 February 2025 [216] | Yes [217] | G20, OAS; Mexico–Palestine relations Further details While Mexico was listed as having recognized Palestine on 2 June 2023 in documents circulated by the United Nations, [117] it was not until 5 February 2025 when Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum affirmed that Mexico recognizes both Israel and Palestine as states. [216] [218] |
![]() | 21 September 2025 [4] | No [219] | G7, G20, NATO, OAS; Canada–Palestine relations |
![]() | 21 September 2025 [4] | No [220] | G20, PIF; Australia–Palestine relations |
![]() | 21 September 2025 [4] | No [221] | G7, G20, NATO, UNSC (permanent); Palestine–United Kingdom relations |
![]() | 21 September 2025 [5] | No | EU, NATO; Palestine–Portugal relations |
![]() | 22 September 2025 [222] | No | EU, G7, G20, NATO, UNSC (permanent); France–Palestine relations |
![]() | 22 September 2025 [223] | No | — |
![]() | 22 September 2025 [224] | No | EU, NATO; Luxembourg–Palestine relations |
![]() | 22 September 2025 [225] | No | EU; Malta–Palestine relations |
![]() | 22 September 2025 [227] | No | — |
![]() | 23 September 2025 [228] | No | — |
Name | Date of recognition | Diplomatic relations | Relevant membership, further details |
---|---|---|---|
![]() | 15 November 1988 [229] | No | AU; Palestine–Sahrawi Republic relations Further details Palestine does not recognize the Sahrawi Republic. |
![]() | February 2013 [230] | Yes [231] | —; Palestine–Vatican City relations |
States that have announced conditional recognition |
Name | Official position | Relations [note 1] | Relevant memberships |
---|---|---|---|
![]() | Austria conferred full diplomatic status on the PLO representation in Vienna on 13 December 1978, under then-chancellor Bruno Kreisky. [232] In June 2011, Foreign Minister Michael Spindelegger said that Austria "had not yet made up its mind whether to support a UN recognition of a Palestinian state", adding that he preferred to wait for a joint EU approach to the issue. "We will decide at the last moment because it might still give [the two parties] the opportunity to bring the Middle East peace process back on track." [233] Spindelegger also suggested that the EU draft its own version of the resolution. [234] Further details Austria was initially listed as having recognized the State of Palestine on 14 December 1988, in documents submitted to UNESCO in 1989 supporting to Palestine's application for membership. However, the submitting states (Algeria, Indonesia, Mauritania, Nigeria, Senegal and Yemen) later requested that Austria be removed from the list. [12] | Yes [235] | EU; Austria–Palestine relations |
![]() | In May 2024, Foreign Minister Hadja Lahbib stated that recognition was not up for discussion, but it would not be granted at the time, [236] while Prime Minister Alexander De Croo stressed that recognition was "symbolic" and would not have "any impact in the field". [237] In July 2025, Belgium stated that it would determine its position on recognition in early September 2025. [238] In August 2025, Foreign Minister Maxime Prévot urged the parliament that Belgium must recognize Palestine as soon as possible, warning that any delay would jeopardize the country's credibility in the two-state solution. [239] On 1 September 2025, Foreign Minister Maxime Prévot announced that Belgium will recognize Palestinian statehood at the 2025 United Nations General Assembly, [240] provided that the last Israeli hostage has been released and Hamas has been excluded from the Palestinian administration. [241] On 22 September 2025, Prime Minister Bart De Wever declared that Belgium would not recognize Palestine de jure reiterating the demands regarding Hamas. [242] | EU, NATO; Belgium–Palestine relations | |
![]() | Cameroon officially supports a two-state solution. [243] Although a member of the OIC, President Paul Biya has developed strong ties with Israel since the mid-1980s. [244] This perceived friendship has soured the country's traditionally close ties with Arab states, many of whom have withdrawn longstanding economic development assistance and pressed Biya to support Palestinian interests. [245] In August 2011, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu asked Biya to oppose the United Nations resolution that would admit Palestine as a member state. [246] | Yes [243] | AU, OIC [62] |
![]() | Croatia formalized relations with the PLO on 31 March 2011. Former Croatian Prime Minister Jadranka Kosor stated in 2011 that her government supported the co-existence of Israel and Palestine as two independent states, [247] however Croatia abstained during voting on upgrading Palestine to non-member observer state status in the United Nations and on admission of Palestine to UNESCO. Former Croatian Foreign Minister Vesna Pusić stated on 24 October 2014 that "Croatia will most likely recognize Palestine soon". [248] The Croatian government tends to favour Israel over Palestine as a commitment to the United States, to whom Croatia is aligned, and the central quarters of the European Union of which Croatia has been a member since 2013. Croatia believes that if it were to recognize Palestine, this would frustrate its position with the EU and ties to the US, and also because the situation in the Middle East is complicated it feels there is no guarantee that there would be peace and further existence of the Jewish state if Israel eventually decides to withdraw from the occupied territories. [249] In June 2025, President Zoran Milanović stated that Croatia should recognize Palestine. [250] On 27 August 2025, Milanović declared that he will vigorously push for Croatia to recognize Palestine as soon as feasible within the bounds of his constitutional authority. He is also urging the government to start the process of recognizing Palestine in the Croatian Parliament. [251] | Yes | EU, NATO |
![]() | Danish Foreign Minister Lene Espersen met Abbas on 9 March 2011 to persuade him to return to negotiating with Israel. Espersen also extended Danish support to Palestinian national development. [252] During the campaign for the 2011 elections, the largest opposition party argued that Denmark should recognize the State of Palestine. Foreign Minister Lene Espersen, however, warned that such a unilateral decision could have "more negative than beneficial" consequences, and stressed the need to co-ordinate policy with the EU. [253] In December 2014, a bill that called on Denmark to recognize Palestine as a state was rejected in the Danish parliament. [254] In July 2025, Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen responded to the planned recognition of Palestine by France, stating that Denmark preferred such recognition to stem from a negotiated two-state solution or a coordinated EU effort. [255] In August 2025, Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen announced that Denmark would not recognize Palestine at this time because "it will not help the thousands of children who are currently fighting for their survival, no matter how much we might wish it." [256] On 22 September 2025, Foreign Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen stated Denmark would recognise Palestine after several conditions are met, including all hostages being released, disarming of Hamas, reforming of the Palestinian Authority, and Hamas having no role in the governance of Gaza in the future. [257] | Yes | EU, NATO; Denmark–Palestine relations |
![]() | Eritrea is one of only two African countries that do not recognize Palestine, the other being Cameroon. [62] [258] In October 2010, President Isaias Afewerki stated, "Israel needs a government, we must respect this. The Palestinians also need to have a dignified life, but it can not be the West Bank or Gaza. A two-state solution will not work. It's just to fool people. Israelis and Palestinians living in the same nation will never happen for many reasons. One option that may work is a Transjordan. Israel may be left in peace and the Palestinian and Jordanian peoples are brought together and can create their own nation". [259] In his address to the UN General Assembly in 2011, Isaias stated that "Eritrea reaffirms its long-standing support to the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination and an independent, sovereign state. It also upholds the right of Israel to live in peace and security within internationally recognized boundaries." [260] On 29 November 2012, Eritrea voted in favour of a resolution to make Palestine a non-member observer state at the UN. On 23 September 2024, the Minister for Foreign affairs H. E. Osman Saleh emphasized the Palestinians' right to self-determination. [261] On 19 January 2025, the Ministry of Information released a press statement welcoming a ceasefire in the Gaza war implemented that day. [262] | Yes [263] | AU |
![]() | During a meeting with Riyad al-Malki in June 2010, Minister Urmas Paet said the country approved an agreement between the two countries and "self-determination for Palestine". [264] Officials stated that the government would not adopt a position regarding the United Nations bid until the final wording of the resolution was published. [265] On 30 July 2025, Estonian prime minister Kristen Michal emphasized that Estonia has no plans to recognize Palestine. [266] | Yes [267] | EU, NATO |
![]() | Fijian policy on the Israeli–Palestinian conflict is largely based on United Nations resolutions. [268] | No | MSG, PIF |
![]() | Finland supports a two-state solution to the conflict. [269] In October 2014, President Sauli Niinistö said that Finland would not follow Sweden's decision in recognizing the State of Palestine. [270] In 2025, President Alexander Stubb stated that he is willing to approve recognition of Palestine if the government presses forward with such a proposal. [271] However, Prime Minister Petteri Orpo stated that Finland is not preparing to recognize Palestine. [272] In September 2025, Minister for Foreign Affairs Elina Valtonen declared: "Finland remains committed to the two-state solution and will recognise the State of Palestine when the time is right." [273] | Yes | EU, NATO; Finland–Palestine relations |
![]() | In April 2011, Chancellor Angela Merkel labelled the Palestinian bid for recognition a "unilateral step", [274] and stated unequivocally that Germany will not recognize a Palestinian state without its prior acceptance by Israel. "Unilateral recognitions therefore definitely do not contribute to achieving this aim ... This is our stance now and it will be our stance in September. There needs to be mutual recognition, otherwise it is not a two-state solution". [275] She also reaffirmed her government's commitment to see an agreement reached as soon as possible. "We want a two-state solution. We want to recognize a Palestinian state. Let us ensure that negotiations begin. It is urgent". [276] In August 2025, Chancellor Friedrich Merz said Germany would not recognize Palestine as it does not "see the requirements met". [277] Further details The German Democratic Republic recognized the State of Palestine on 18 November 1988, [12] but it later unified with the Federal Republic of Germany and the current government does not recognize it. | Yes | EU, G7, G20, NATO; Germany–Palestine relations |
![]() | President Karolos Papoulias has stated that Greece ultimately supports the creation of a Palestinian state alongside Israel. [278] Under previous governments, Greece garnered a reputation as a staunch supporter of the Palestinian cause. [279] Within the wider Arab–Israeli conflict, Andreas Papandreou maintained a stronger stand against Israel than any other government in the European Community. Diplomatic relations were founded with the PLO in 1981, while relations with Israel were maintained only at the consular level until Greece's formal recognition of Israel in 1990 under Konstantinos Mitsotakis. [280] Since the formation of current foreign policy under George Papandreou, Greece has seen a rapid improvement in relations with Israel, [281] leading the media to mark the conclusion of Greece's pro-Palestinian era. [282] However, in December 2015, Greece's parliament voted in favour of a motion requesting that the government recognize Palestine. [283] On 7 September 2025, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis declared that Greece will recognize Palestinian statehood at the right time. [284] | Yes | EU, NATO; Greece–Palestine relations |
![]() | See above | Yes | |
![]() | In May 2011, at an event in Rome celebrating Israel's independence, then Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi pledged his country's support to Israel. [285] In June, he reiterated Italy's position against unilateral actions on either side of the conflict, stressing that "peace can only be reached with a common initiative through negotiations". [286] This position was shared by parliamentarians, who drafted a letter to the United Nations stating that "a premature, unilateral declaration of Palestinian statehood would [...] undermine rather than resolve the Israeli–Palestinian peace process". [287] Nevertheless, at the same time, Italy upgraded the diplomatic status of the Palestinian delegation in Rome to a mission, similarly to what other EU countries were doing, giving the head of the delegation ambassadorial status. [288] Moreover, on 31 October 2011, Italy did not oppose Palestine's UNESCO membership bid [289] and, on 29 November 2012, Italy voted in favour of UN Resolution 67/19, giving Palestine a non-member observer state status at the United Nations. [290] Italy's opposition to unilateral actions was reiterated on 21 December 2017, when it voted in favour of a UN draft resolution calling on all countries to comply with Security Council resolutions regarding the status of Jerusalem, [291] following the decision by the U.S. to move its embassy to Israel from Tel Aviv to the city. [292] In July 2025, both Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani stated that Italy was not ready to recognize Palestine and that such a move would be counterproductive. [293] [294] However, in September 2025, Meloni stated that Italy would recognize Palestine, given that all Israeli hostages are released and Hamas is excluded from the Palestinian government. [295] | Yes | EU, G7, G20, NATO; Italy–Palestine relations |
![]() | Japan supports a two-state solution to the conflict, [296] and supports the establishment of a Palestinian state. [297] In October 2007, a Japanese Justice Ministry official said "Given that the Palestinian Authority has improved itself to almost a full-fledged state and issues its own passports, we have decided to accept the Palestinian nationality". [298] The Japanese government declared that it would not recognize any act that would jeopardize a Palestinian state with the pre-1967 borders nor the annexation of East Jerusalem by Israel. [299] [300] Japan voted favourably for the United Nations General Assembly resolution to accord Palestine Non-member Observer State status in the United Nations in November 2012, and since then, refers to the country as "Palestine". [301] In August 2024, a Japanese official stated that the country was considering recognition. [302] On 30 July 2025, Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya stated that, in contrast to France, Japan requires additional time before recognizing Palestine as a sovereign state. However, he reaffirmed Japan's continued commitment to a two-state solution. [303] On 22 September 2025, Iwaya stated that Japan's recognition of Palestine as a state is a matter of "when" rather than "if." [304] | Yes | G7, G20; Japan–Palestine relations |
![]() | During the summit of the Pacific Islands Forum in early September 2011, the foreign minister of Kiribati reportedly expressed support for the Palestinian position. [305] | No | PIF |
![]() | Latvia supports a two-state solution to the conflict and provides development assistance to the Palestinian National Authority. [306] [307] In July 2025, the Latvian foreign ministry reiterated that there were no plans to recognize Palestine. [308] | Yes | EU, NATO |
![]() | Liechtenstein relies on Switzerland to carry out most of its foreign affairs. [309] In January 2011, it co-sponsored a draft resolution guaranteeing the Palestinian people's right to self-determination, [310] and stated that this right must be exercised with a view to achieving a viable and fully sovereign Palestinian state. [311] In September 2025, Foreign Minister Sabine Monauni stated that Palestine fundamentally met the requirements for statehood. [312] | No | EFTA |
![]() | Lithuania supports a two-state solution including an independent Palestinian state. [313] In 2011, Foreign Minister Audronius Ažubalis called for a strong, unanimous European position that encouraged both parties to resume peace talks. [314] In August 2025, a senior advisor to President Gitanas Nausėda stated that "at this time, the question of recognising Palestine is not on our agenda." [315] | Yes | EU, NATO; Lithuania–Palestine relations |
![]() | The Marshall Islands has, like the US, long been a close voting ally of Israel at the United Nations. In December 2017, the Marshall Islands was one of just nine countries (including the US and Israel) to vote against a motion adopted by the UN General Assembly condemning the United States' recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital city. [292] Additionally, it was one of only five countries (the others being Israel, the US, Micronesia and Nauru) to oppose a UN draft resolution in November 2020 on the creation of a Palestinian state. [316] | No | PIF |
![]() | The Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) is a consistent supporter of Israel, especially in international resolutions, [317] though this is due in part to its association with the United States. [309] Former FSM President Manny Mori said that the relationship goes back to 1986, when Israel made "[an] early decision to support Micronesia's membership in the UN". [318] During the summit of the Pacific Islands Forum in September 2011, the leader of the Micronesian delegation reportedly stated his country's solidarity with the Palestinian people's suffering and support for their right to self-determination. Regarding the PNA's endeavour to gain admission to the United Nations, however, the official stated that the agreements signed with the U.S. prevented the FSM from voting according to its government's wishes in cases where they conflicted with those of the U.S. [305] In reference to Israel's continued development assistance to Micronesians, another diplomat noted, "We need Israeli expertise, so I don't see a change in our policy anytime soon." [317] | No | PIF |
![]() | On 27 May 2024, Foreign Minister Mihai Popșoi reaffirmed support of Moldova for the two-state solution, however he also stated that there was no internal consensus on recognizing the State of Palestine. [319] | Yes | |
![]() | Myanmar is one of only two Asian members of the Non-Aligned Movement that has not recognized the State of Palestine, alongside Singapore. [320] [321] Former foreign affairs minister Win Aung stated in 2000 that Myanmar supports a two-state solution within internationally recognized borders. [322] | No | ASEAN |
![]() | During the Pacific Islands Forum in early September 2011, Foreign Affairs Minister Kieren Keke confirmed his nation's solidarity with the Palestinian people and their right to self-determination. [323] The PNA's foreign ministry published a statement prior to the summit claiming that most Pacific island nations would vote against a United Nations resolution regarding the Palestinian state. [324] | No | PIF |
![]() | The Netherlands supports a two-state solution, with the recognition of Palestine as a state seen as contingent upon successful negotiations that ensure the security and mutual recognition of both states. [325] In August 2025, the Dutch foreign minister stated "The Netherlands is not planning to recognise a Palestinian state at this time." [326] | Yes | EU, NATO; Netherlands–Palestine relations |
![]() | New Zealand supports a two-state solution to the peace process. [327] It also maintains a policy of tacit rather than explicit recognition of new states. For Palestine, this would mean upgrading its accredited delegation to a diplomatic status. [328] In early September 2011, Foreign Minister Murray McCully said that the government would not make a decision until the wording of the resolution was released. "We've got a reputation for being fair minded and even handed on this matter and all we can do is wait to see the words. [327] He also told Riyad al-Malki that his country had refused to give Israel any pledges to refuse to vote in favor of the draft resolution. [305] Since 2017, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern had reiterated her support for a two-state solution and opposition to settler expansions. [329] [330] Foreign Minister Winston Peters is expected to formally announce the country's position on recognizing Palestine during the 2025 United Nations General Assembly. [331] [332] | Yes [180] | PIF; New Zealand–Palestine relations |
![]() | North Macedonia is one of the few countries with no political or diplomatic relations with Palestine, of any kind. Whilst he was Macedonian Foreign Minister, Nikola Poposki stated that the Macedonian position will be built in accordance with the views of the European Union and its strategic partners. [333] | No | NATO |
![]() | Palau is one of four countries (alongside the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia and Nauru) that has almost always voted with the U.S. in bills at the UN. Palau, the Marshall Islands, Micronesia and the U.S. make up the Compact of Free Association, [334] which some observers have suggested amounts to "checkbook diplomacy", whereby the U.S. bought the tiny island states' votes for cash. [335] When the UN overwhelmingly voted to condemn Donald Trump's decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital and relocate the U.S. embassy there, Palau was one of only nine countries to support the move. [336] [337] | No | PIF |
![]() | Panama has not indicated its position regarding a vote on statehood, [338] and is reported to be undecided on the matter. [339] President Ricardo Martinelli has a record of supporting Israel in UN resolutions, [340] and has reportedly resisted pressure from other Latin American governments to recognize Palestine. [341] The Central American Integration System (SICA) was expected to adopt a joint position on the issue at its summit on 18 August, [342] but Panama insisted that discussion should retain a regional focus and the matter was not included on the final agenda. [343] In early September, Foreign Minister Roberto Henriquez said that the government's decision would not be made public until its vote is cast, but added, "It is very important that the birth of this country and its recognition in the international forum is previously accompanied by a full peace agreement with its neighbour, Israel." [344] On 4 July 2015, Panama's Vice President and Foreign Minister Isabel De Saint Malo de Alvarado said that her government is looking at ways to recognize the State of Palestine without affecting their "close relationship" with Israel. [345] | No | OAS |
![]() | In 2010, Prime Minister Tuilaʻepa Saʻilele Malielegaoi expressed support for a two-state solution to the conflict. [346] | No | PIF |
![]() | Singapore has not recognized the State of Palestine. [321] The island state has a strong relationship with Israel. [347] However, Singapore established a representative office in Ramallah as a move to improve coordination of capacity-building initiatives and fortify relations with the Palestinian National Authority. [348] [349] On 2 July 2024, Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan stated that Singapore could recognize Palestine if it in turn accepted Israel's right to exist. [350] In July 2025, Singapore announced that it was "prepared in principle" to recognize Palestine. [351] On 22 September 2025, Balakrishnan declared that Singapore will recognize Palestine once it has a competent administration, supports Israel's right to exist, and abandons terrorism. [352] | Yes [353] | ASEAN |
![]() | Foreign Minister Peter Shannel Agovaka met Riyad al-Malki in early September 2011 at the summit of the Pacific Islands Forum in Wellington. Agovaka reportedly confirmed his government's support of Palestinian efforts at the United Nations, and that possible recognition of the State of Palestine would be considered in the next cabinet meeting. [305] | No | PIF |
![]() | The government of South Korea does not recognize the State of Palestine; however, it has a representative office in Ramallah. [354] | Yes | G20; Palestine–South Korea relations |
![]() | Switzerland does not recognize Palestine as an independent state but voted in favour of granting it a non-member observer status at the UN in November 2014. Swiss President Simonetta Sommaruga voiced her support for a two-state solution, saying "Switzerland has worked for years for a solution to the conflict between Israel and Palestine. Our aim is to achieve peace." [355] | Yes | EFTA; Palestine–Switzerland relations |
![]() | In September 2011, following the summit of the Pacific Islands Forum in Wellington, the PNA's foreign ministry noted that it had made significant strides in its efforts to attain recognition from Tonga. [323] | No | PIF |
![]() | On 10 September 2015, the United Nations General Assembly passed a Palestinian resolution to allow its flag to fly in front of the United Nations headquarters in New York. The vote was passed with 119 votes in support, 8 opposing, and 45 abstentions. Tuvalu was one of the eight opposing votes. [356] | No | PIF |
![]() | In September 2011, President Barack Obama declared U.S. opposition to the bid in his speech to the General Assembly, saying that "genuine peace can only be realized between Israelis and Palestinians themselves" and that "[u]ltimately, it is Israelis and Palestinians – not us – who must reach an agreement on the issues that divide them". [357] Obama told Abbas that the United States would veto any United Nations Security Council move to recognize Palestinian statehood. [358] Presidents Donald Trump and Joe Biden have maintained that UNSC veto policy. [359] In August 2025, US Vice President JD Vance reaffirmed that the United States would not recognize Palestine, stating "I don't know what it would mean to really recognise a Palestinian state, given the lack of functional government there". [360] | Yes | G7, G20, NATO, OAS, UNSC (permanent); Palestine–United States relations |
Name | Official position | Relations [note 1] | Relevant memberships |
---|---|---|---|
![]() | No [361] | ||
![]() | Yes [362] [363] | ||
![]() | Taiwan does not recognise the State of Palestine, while the government of Taiwan is "closely monitoring the latest developments on the issue" and calls on "all parties to show self-restraint ... and resolve differences through ongoing communication". On 22 September 2025, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) criticised a map released by the Permanent Observer Mission of Palestine colouring the island of Taiwan as "recognised", which suggested that Taiwan is part of China, and said that Taiwan "has no immediate plan to recognise a Palestinian state". MOFA also citied a strategic partnership between China and Palestine, in which Palestine affirmed that Taiwan is an "inalienable part of China's territory." [364] | No [364] |
The State of Palestine is a party to several multilateral treaties, registered with five depositaries: the United Kingdom, UNESCO, United Nations, the Netherlands and Switzerland. The ratification of the UNESCO conventions took place in 2011/2012 and followed Palestine becoming a member of UNESCO, while the ratification of the other conventions were performed in 2014 while negotiations with Israel were at an impasse.
Depositary country/organization | Depositary organ | Number of treaties | Examples | Date of first ratification/accession |
---|---|---|---|---|
Netherlands | Ministry of Foreign Affairs | 1 [365] | Convention respecting the laws and customs of war on land | 2 April 2014 |
Russia | 1 [366] | Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons | 10 February 2015 | |
Switzerland | Federal Council | 7 [367] [368] | Geneva Conventions and Protocols | 2 April 2014 |
UNESCO | Director-General | 8 [369] | Convention concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage | 8 December 2011 |
United Nations | Secretary-General | >50 [370] | Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, Statute of the International Criminal Court | 9 April 2014 |
United Kingdom | Foreign and Commonwealth Office | 2 [371] [372] | UNESCO Constitution, Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons | 23 November 2011 |
In an objection of 16 May 2014, Israel informed the Secretary General of the United Nations that it did not consider that Palestine met the definition of statehood and that its requested accession to the United Nations Convention against Torture as being "without legal validity and without effect upon Israel's treaty relations under the Convention". [373] The United States and Canada lodged similar objections. [374] [375]
Palestine participated in the negotiation of the UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons and voted in favour of its adoption on 7 July 2017. [376]
Within two weeks of the PNC meeting, at least fifty-five nations, including states as diverse as the Soviet Union, China, India, Greece, Yugoslavia, Sri Lanka, Malta, and Zambia, had recognised the Palestinian state.
In the spring of 2024, more European and Caribbean nations recognized a Palestinian state...
The UK's expected announcement on Sunday is part of a French-led initiative to recognize a State of Palestine
French President Emmanuel Macron has led the way on the plan to recognize Palestinian statehood
Mr Macron has spearheaded a movement among Western leaders to recognise Palestinian statehood, in opposition to the US. France became the first G7 nation to make this pledge in July.
The UK, Australia and Canada have recognised the Palestinian State in a historic diplomatic shift just days ahead of the UN General Assembly High-level week...
Ambassadeur extraordinaire et plénipotentiaire de l'État de Palestine.[Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the State of Palestine.]
...pada 19 Oktober 1989 di Jakarta telah ditandatangani "Komunike Bersama Pembukaan Hubungan Diplomatik Indonesia-Palestina"...[...on 19 October 1989 in Jakarta, the "Joint Communiqué on the Opening of Diplomatic Relations between Indonesia and Palestine" was signed...]
دولة فلسطين.[State of Palestine]
Mr. Mahmoud Abbas is the President of the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) and the President of the State of Palestine.
État de Palestine.[State of Palestine.]
Les deux pays ont établi des relations diplomatiques en 1994. chacune des deux parties étant représentée par un bureau de liaison.Les deux pays ont établi des relations diplomatiques en 1994. chacune des deux parties étant représentée par un bureau de liaison.[The two countries established diplomatic relations in 1994, with each party represented by a liaison office.][ permanent dead link ]
Turkey established official relations with the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) in 1975 and was one of the first countries that recognized the Palestinian State established in exile on 15 November 1988.
Embassy of Afghanistan in Damascus ... non-resident envoy to: Jordan, Lebanon and Palestine.
Embassy of the State of Palestina.
His Excellency Mahmoud Abbas, President of the State of the Palestine.
... representative of His Excellency the President of the State of Palestine
Slovakia reconfirmed its recognition of Palestine in 1993.
Slovakia's Foreign Ministry says that the two sides confirmed their mutual recognition when Slovakia was becoming independent in 1992–93...
In 1947, India voted against the partition of Palestine at the UN GA. India was the first Non-Arab State to recognize PLO ... in 1974. India was one of the first countries to recognize the State of Palestine in 1988. In 1996, India opened its Representative Office to the Palestine Authority in Gaza, which later was shifted to Ramallah in 2003.
Первое представительство ООП (Организации Освобождения Палестины) в Москве было открыто в 1974 г., и первым Главой Представительства стал Бригадный Генерал Мухаммад Аль-Шаер. В 1981г. Представительство было преобразовано в дипломатическую миссию. А 18 ноября 1988 г. СССР официально признал Палестинское Государство. В январе 1990г. Представительство было преобразовано в Посольство Государство Палестина.[The first PLO (Palestine Liberation Organization) representative office in Moscow was opened in 1974, and the first Head of the Representative Office was Brigadier General Muhammad al-Shaer. In 1981, the Representative Office was transformed into a diplomatic mission. And on 18 November 1988, the USSR officially recognized the State of Palestine. In January 1990, the Representative Office was transformed into the Embassy of the State of Palestine.]
1968: Viet Nam established ties with the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO)... 19 November 1988: Viet Nam recognized the State of Palestine and officially transformed the PLO's resident Representative Office into the Embassy of the State of Palestine.
"State of Palestine". Relations established with the PLO prior to the 1988 declaration of independence.
He also stressed that Hungary remains opposed to one-sided recognition of a Palestinian state and continues to insist on balanced diplomacy in global affairs.
Several European countries, such as Czech Republic and Hungary, originally recognized a Palestinian state in 1988 when they were part of the Communist bloc of Soviet-aligned nations and followed a unified policy, but their current diplomatic stance may be different.
And while it has not officially rescinded recognition, its position is unclear.
Tény, hogy anno hazánk is elismerte ... és a békés közel-keleti rendezésben bízva ezt azóta sem mondta fel.[It is a fact that our country also recognized it back then, ... and has not renounced it since, trusting in a peaceful settlement in the Middle East.]
Palestine.
The State of Palestine is recognized by over one hundred states including the Republic of the Philippines. In September 1989, diplomatic relations were established between the two governments leading to the opening of the Embassy of the State of Palestine in Manila, May 1990.
Relations established on 6 April 1992. Palestinian Embassy in Kazakhstan was opened in 1993.
The Republic of Azerbaijan has diplomatic relations with Palestine since 15.04.1992
Niyazov sent a message of condolences to the government of the State of Palestine
Relations established 25 April 1992.
Lista zemalja koje su priznale Bosnu i Hercegovinu i datumi uspostavljanja diplomatskih odnosa – Palestine – 27.05.1992, 30.10.1992.[List of countries that recognized Bosnia and Herzegovina and dates of establishment of diplomatic relations – Palestine – 27 May 1992, 30 October 1992.]
Diplomatic relations established with the State of Palestine 25 September 1994
The establishment of full diplomatic relations with the State of Palestine was announced on 15 February 1995. ... South African Representation in Palestine – The South African Representative to the Palestinian National Authority ... State of Palestine Representation in South Africa – Embassy of the State of Palestine.
The Head of the General Delegation of Palestine to Australia and New Zealand and Ambassador to East Timor, Papua New Guinea and Vanuatu.
estableció relaciones diplomáticas con Palestina el 25 de marzo de 2005 mediante el intercambio de Notas Reversales, acto que implicó su reconocimiento. ... Por esta declaración la República del Paraguay reitera expresamente el reconocimiento de ese Estado como libre e independiente con las fronteras del 4 de junio de 1967.[established diplomatic relations with Palestine on 25 March 2005 through the exchange of Reversal Notes, an act that implied its recognition. ... By this declaration, the Republic of Paraguay expressly reiterates its recognition of that State as free and independent with the borders of 4 June 1967.]
Palestine, State of Palestine – Date of Recognition 24 July 2006; Date of Establishment of Diplomatic Relations 1 August 2006.
The Lebanese government has approved forming full diplomatic relations with what it calls the 'state of Palestine', and is elevating the office of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) in Beirut to the status of an embassy. No date has been set to carry out the decision, which was announced by Lebanese Information Minister Tariq Mitri.
The Lebanese Cabinet decided at its meeting Thursday to establish diplomatic relations with the State of Palestine to implement the Cabinet decision of 2008.
In a letter sent by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva to the President of the Palestinian National Authority, Mahmoud Abbas, on 1 December 2010, the Brazilian Government has recognized the Palestinian State based on the existing borders in 1967.
Embajador Estado de Palestina[Ambassador State of Palestine]
...embajador del Estado de Palestina en Argentina...[...ambassador of the State of Palestine in Argentina...]
Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand on Friday said that Canada will nevertheless withhold full normalization of relations with Palestine until the territory's leadership delivers on commitments they made, including releasing Israeli hostages.
Further steps, including the establishment of diplomatic relations and opening of embassies, will be considered as the Palestinian Authority makes progress on its commitments to reform....
Foreign secretary Yvette Cooper will now formally establish diplomatic relations with Palestine, Sir Keir said in a letter to its president Mahmoud Abbas.
Noting Singapore's "good and strong" relationship with the Palestinian Authority,...
The Assembly then adopted that text by a recorded vote of 119 in favour to 8 against (Australia, Canada, Israel, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Palau, Tuvalu, United States), with 45 abstentions.