Ireland intends to recognize a Palestinian state in the coming weeks

Ireland has long stated that it has no objection in principle to formal recognition of a Palestinian state if it contributes to the peace process in the Middle East. In Dublin, Foreign Secretary Micheal Martin announced on Tuesday his intention to present the government with a formal proposal to recognize a Palestinian state once “wider international discussions” have concluded. “Have no doubt that recognition of a Palestinian state will happen,” he said in a speech to the Irish parliament.

He believed that the deferment of this recognition was “no longer credible or justified.” Michael Martin then told Irish news site The Journal that a formal offer would be made “in the coming weeks.”

Several countries are in the same process. Ireland’s Foreign Secretary confirmed that he had been discussing this recognition with other countries involved in peace initiatives over the past six months. In March, the leaders of Spain, Ireland, Slovakia and Malta said in a joint statement that they were ready to recognize the existence of a Palestinian state.

“There is no doubt that war crimes have been committed and I categorically condemn the ongoing bombing of the people of Gaza,” added Michael Martin. He believes recognition of statehood “could serve as a catalyst to help the people of Gaza and the West Bank and advance an Arab-led peace initiative.”

Status of a “non-UN observer state”

The UN Security Council will consider the status of Palestine at the end of April. The idea is to give the Palestinian Authority access to the United Nations selection committee, which would de facto recognize the State of Palestine.

“The Council has decided that this discussion should take place in April,” said Malta’s UN Ambassador Vanessa Fraser, who holds the Council’s rotating presidency. None of the 15 Council members openly opposed this schedule.

Already in September 2011, the President of the Palestinian Authority, Mahmoud Abbas, launched the procedure for “accession of the State of Palestine to the UN,” which was never completed. The Palestinians finally achieved “non-member observer state” status in November 2012.

Israeli Ambassador to the UN Gilad Erdan vehemently condemned the openness shown to the Palestinian request.

However, to go further, the Security Council must accept the request with at least nine votes in favor and no vetoes from permanent members. In this case, the proposal will be submitted to the General Assembly, which will complete the membership access procedure with a two-thirds majority vote of its 193 members. According to the Palestinian Authority’s own calculations, some 137 countries out of 193 UN states have expressed recognition of a Palestinian state. This does not apply to most countries in Western Europe, North America, Australia, Japan and South Korea.

In addition, the United States already opposed this accession in 2011. The United States believes that the UN is not the place for recognition of a Palestinian state, which, in their opinion, should come from a bilateral agreement between Israel and the Palestinians. The American mission to the UN also recalled that American law provides for a reduction in UN funding if the Security Council accepts a Palestinian state outside of such a bilateral agreement.