The Irish government is expected to announce today that it recognizes the Palestinian state, a well-informed source told Reuters, BTA reported.
In recent weeks, EU members Ireland, Spain, Slovenia and Malta have signaled their intention to recognize Palestine, arguing that the coexistence of two states for the two peoples, Israeli and Palestinian, is the only way to ensure lasting peace in the region.
Last night the Irish government announced that the Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary would be speaking to the media this morning, but did not specify what issue.
Nine out of a total of 27 member states of the European Union recognize the State of Palestine. Eight of them did so before joining the bloc - even after Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat declared Palestine an independent state on November 15, 1988 - Malta, Cyprus, the Czech Republic and Slovakia (until 1993 Czechoslovakia), Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria and Poland. They were followed in 2014 by Sweden, which became the first country to recognize Palestine after joining the EU.