Slovenia welcomes decision by Ireland, Norway, Spain to recognize Palestinian state

Slovenia on Wednesday welcomed the decision by Ireland, Norway and Spain to recognize a Palestinian state.

"I welcome today's statements by the leaders of Spain, Ireland and Norway regarding the recognition of Palestine. I have been in close and regular contact with them in recent weeks and will continue to do so in the coming days," Prime Minister Robert Golob said.

He recalled that in a recent letter to EU leaders he urged countries which have not recognized Palestine yet to do so.

United, we can put pressure on the Israeli and Palestinian sides to achieve a cease-fire and release the hostages, he said.

Slovenia is aware that Palestinians need more than a symbolic gesture of recognition of statehood, he added.

"We want to help reform and strengthen the Palestinian administration, which will represent its people in both the West Bank and Gaza and direct it towards the two-state solution, which the whole world sees as the solution to lasting peace," Golob said.

Golob added that permanent peace in the Middle East is only possible if all actors in the region and the world accept the reality of a two-state solution.

Slovenia will recognize a Palestinian state by June 13, Foreign Minister Tanja Fajon said earlier this month.

The recognition comes as Israel continues its brutal offensive on the Gaza Strip since Oct. 7 despite a UN Security Council resolution demanding an immediate cease-fire in the enclave.

More than 35,600 Palestinians have been killed, the vast majority of whom have been women and children, and nearly 79,900 others injured.

More than seven months into the Israeli war, vast swathes of Gaza lay in ruins amid a crippling blockade of food, clean water and medicine.

Israel is accused of genocide at the International Court of Justice, which has ordered it to ensure that its forces do not commit acts of genocide and take measures to guarantee that humanitarian assistance is provided to civilians in Gaza.