Which countries recognise Palestine as a state?


Nada AlTaher
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Israel's continuing war in Gaza has revived the international push to recognise Palestine as a separate state.

The Palestinian territories are currently occupied by Israel, which controls most of the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and is currently fighting a war against Hamas in Gaza.

While many countries have long-recognised Palestinian statehood, most in line with their support for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, others including the US do not.

However, that balance now appears to be shifting.

On Wednesday, Spain, Norway and Ireland said they will officially recognise Palestine's statehood, effective from May 28.

Norway's Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store said the move was the “only alternative” to war that offers a political solution “for Israelis and Palestinians alike”.

“Two states, living side by side, in peace and security,” he said.

He reiterated the popular notion that a Palestine state is a “prerequisite” for peace in the region.

Here is a breakdown of which countries recognise Palestinian statehood.

When was a Palestinian state first recognised?

In 1988, Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat unilaterally declared a state of Palestine, with himself as President, nearly 25 years after the establishment of the Palestinian Liberation Organisation, which he chaired.

Mr Arafat adopted the Palestinian Declaration of Independence, which was written by Palestinian poet Mahmoud Darwish.

The declaration's significance lies in its definition of the borders of Palestine according to the British Mandate – which includes the whole of Israel, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.

That same year, 83 countries recognised Palestine's statehood.

These included most of the Arab world, including the UAE, Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia.

The Soviet Union, China, India and Turkey were among the other major countries to recognise Palestine that year.

However, the US and most western countries refused to recognise Palestine.

Palestinian Liberation Organisation leader Yasser Arafat, left, meets with UN General Secretary Javier Perez de Cuellar in Geneva in 1988, for a meeting on Palestine. AFP
Palestinian Liberation Organisation leader Yasser Arafat, left, meets with UN General Secretary Javier Perez de Cuellar in Geneva in 1988, for a meeting on Palestine. AFP

Which European countries recognise Palestine?

Spain, Norway and Ireland are the latest European countries to recognise Palestinian statehood.

European countries have historically been allies of Israel and were early to recognise the foundation of the Israeli state.

Current EU members Bulgaria, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Czechia and Slovakia (as Czechoslovakia) recognised a Palestinian state in 1988, when they were part of the Soviet bloc. Cyprus also recognised Palestine that year.

Sweden was the first country to recognise a Palestinian state from within the EU in 2014.

Malta and Slovenia are seen as potential candidates to follow Spain, Norway and Ireland in recognising Palestine.

How many UN states recognise Palestine and Israel?

Statehood for Palestine at the UN would be a step up from its current status as a “non-member observer state”, which means it is currently only partially recognised as a state.

Most of the UN's member states have recognised Palestine as a full state.

This year, 143 out of the UN's 193 members voted in favour of Palestine's bid for full membership of the UN.

Israel is also only partially recognised by the states of the UN, but with a larger majority: more than 160 UN member states recognise Israel, giving it enough support to become a full member.

Which permanent members of the UN Security Council recognise Palestine?

The UNSC is split on recognising Palestinian statehood. China and Russia do, but the US, UK, and France do not.

Which G20 and G7 countries recognise Palestine?

Ten countries of the G20 recognise a Palestinian state. They are Argentina, Brazil, China, India, Indonesia, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa and Turkey.

The remaining nine countries, as well as the EU, do not. These include all seven members of the G7: Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the UK, and US.

How being social media savvy can improve your well being

Next time when procastinating online remember that you can save thousands on paying for a personal trainer and a gym membership simply by watching YouTube videos and keeping up with the latest health tips and trends.

As social media apps are becoming more and more consumed by health experts and nutritionists who are using it to awareness and encourage patients to engage in physical activity.

Elizabeth Watson, a personal trainer from Stay Fit gym in Abu Dhabi suggests that “individuals can use social media as a means of keeping fit, there are a lot of great exercises you can do and train from experts at home just by watching videos on YouTube”.

Norlyn Torrena, a clinical nutritionist from Burjeel Hospital advises her clients to be more technologically active “most of my clients are so engaged with their phones that I advise them to download applications that offer health related services”.

Torrena said that “most people believe that dieting and keeping fit is boring”.

However, by using social media apps keeping fit means that people are “modern and are kept up to date with the latest heath tips and trends”.

“It can be a guide to a healthy lifestyle and exercise if used in the correct way, so I really encourage my clients to download health applications” said Mrs Torrena.

People can also connect with each other and exchange “tips and notes, it’s extremely healthy and fun”.

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Best Player: Cristiano Ronaldo (Juventus)
Best Coach: Gian Piero Gasperini (Atalanta)
Best Referee: Gianluca Rocchi
Best Goal: Fabio Quagliarella (Sampdoria vs Napoli)
Best Team: Atalanta​​​​​​​
Best XI: Samir Handanovic (Inter); Aleksandar Kolarov (Roma), Giorgio Chiellini (Juventus), Kalidou Koulibaly (Napoli), Joao Cancelo (Juventus*); Miralem Pjanic (Juventus), Josip Ilicic (Atalanta), Nicolo Barella (Cagliari*); Fabio Quagliarella (Sampdoria), Cristiano Ronaldo (Juventus), Duvan Zapata (Atalanta)
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Types of fraud

Phishing: Fraudsters send an unsolicited email that appears to be from a financial institution or online retailer. The hoax email requests that you provide sensitive information, often by clicking on to a link leading to a fake website.

Smishing: The SMS equivalent of phishing. Fraudsters falsify the telephone number through “text spoofing,” so that it appears to be a genuine text from the bank.

Vishing: The telephone equivalent of phishing and smishing. Fraudsters may pose as bank staff, police or government officials. They may persuade the consumer to transfer money or divulge personal information.

SIM swap: Fraudsters duplicate the SIM of your mobile number without your knowledge or authorisation, allowing them to conduct financial transactions with your bank.

Identity theft: Someone illegally obtains your confidential information, through various ways, such as theft of your wallet, bank and utility bill statements, computer intrusion and social networks.

Prize scams: Fraudsters claiming to be authorised representatives from well-known organisations (such as Etisalat, du, Dubai Shopping Festival, Expo2020, Lulu Hypermarket etc) contact victims to tell them they have won a cash prize and request them to share confidential banking details to transfer the prize money.

* Nada El Sawy

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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets

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Find the right policy for you

Don’t wait until the week you fly to sign up for insurance – get it when you book your trip. Insurance covers you for cancellation and anything else that can go wrong before you leave.

Some insurers, such as World Nomads, allow you to book once you are travelling – but, as Mr Mohammed found out, pre-existing medical conditions are not covered.

Check your credit card before booking insurance to see if you have any travel insurance as a benefit – most UAE banks, such as Emirates NBD, First Abu Dhabi Bank and Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank, have cards that throw in insurance as part of their package. But read the fine print – they may only cover emergencies while you’re travelling, not cancellation before a trip.

Pre-existing medical conditions such as a heart condition, diabetes, epilepsy and even asthma may not be included as standard. Again, check the terms, exclusions and limitations of any insurance carefully.

If you want trip cancellation or curtailment, baggage loss or delay covered, you may need a higher-grade plan, says Ambareen Musa of Souqalmal.com. Decide how much coverage you need for emergency medical expenses or personal liability. Premium insurance packages give up to $1 million (Dh3.7m) in each category, Ms Musa adds.

Don’t wait for days to call your insurer if you need to make a claim. You may be required to notify them within 72 hours. Gather together all receipts, emails and reports to prove that you paid for something, that you didn’t use it and that you did not get reimbursed.

Finally, consider optional extras you may need, says Sarah Pickford of Travel Counsellors, such as a winter sports holiday. Also ensure all individuals can travel independently on that cover, she adds. And remember: “Cheap isn’t necessarily best.”

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Updated: May 22, 2024, 1:30 PM`