Malta to officially recognize Palestine Monday

Malta announced on Monday that it will officially recognize the State of Palestine during the UN General Assembly meetings in New York. 

The move joins a historic wave of recognition by Western countries coordinated to “revive the two-state solution."

Malta’s decision follows announcements by the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and Portugal on Sunday. 

Read more: Canada, Australia, UK officially recognize State of Palestine

France and several other European countries are expected to follow suit on Monday, marking a significant shift in Western policy towards ‘Israel’ and Palestine. 

Malta, an EU member state, has long supported Palestinian causes and the two-state solution, while maintaining diplomatic relations with ‘Israel’.

Malta’s Prime Minister, Robert Abela, had announced his intention to take this step as early as May.

In a Facebook post on Sunday evening, Abela highlighted Malta’s recent donation of a shipment of flour to Gaza, saying it arrived “on the eve of Malta’s recognition of a Palestinian state.”

He described the recognition as “historic” and reaffirmed Malta’s commitment to “reaching peace in the region.”