India Recognised the State of Palestine in the 1980s and Supported a Two-State Solution: MEA

New Delhi, May 30, 2024: When asked about India's position on the recent recognition of Palestine by Ireland, Norway, and Spain, official spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated, "As you are aware, India was one of the first countries to recognise the state of Palestine in the late 1980s, and we have long supported the two-state solution which entails the establishment of a sovereign, viable, and independent state of Palestine within recognised and mutually agreed borders, living side by side with Israel in peace."

Last week, Ireland, Norway, and Spain announced their recognition of the Palestinian state, with Spain announcing on May 28. Currently, over 143 United Nations member states recognize Palestinian statehood, though key countries such as the United States and the United Kingdom do not. In response to these recognitions, Israel's foreign ministry condemned the decisions, warning that they could "fuel extremism and instability," and has recalled its envoys to Norway, Spain, and Ireland.

Palestine has held non-member observer state status at the UN General Assembly since 2012. In November, Norway's parliament, the Storting, passed a resolution urging the government to recognize Palestine as a state. Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide emphasized the importance of addressing the Gaza conflict through "an irreversible path towards a settlement," noting that state recognition is a strategic tool, not an end goal. He clarified that Norway aims for a Palestinian state led by the Palestinian Authority.

In response, Israel criticized the recognition as a "distorted step." The Israeli foreign ministry reiterated its stance, warning that such moves could "fuel extremism and instability," and confirmed the recall of its envoys from Norway, Spain, and Ireland.