Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News
Malta has announced that it will formally recognize the state of Palestine in September, joining a growing group of countries including France and potentially the United Kingdom, in supporting Palestinian statehood and pressuring for an end to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
The announcement was made by Christopher Cutajar, permanent secretary at Malta’s Foreign Ministry, during a high-level U.N. General Assembly session focused on implementing the two-state solution. The meeting, originally scheduled for two days, was extended to a third due to the high number of countries requesting to speak.
Cutajar emphasized Malta’s long-standing support for the Palestinian right to self-determination, stating, “As responsible actors, we have a duty to work to translate the concept of a two-state solution from theory into practice. It is for this reason that the government of Malta has taken the principled decision to formally recognize the state of Palestine at the upcoming U.N. General Assembly in September.”
Prime Minister Robert Abela also confirmed the decision on Facebook, describing it as part of Malta’s commitment to promoting lasting peace in the Middle East.
With this move, Malta joins over 145 countries including more than a dozen European nations that have already recognized Palestinian statehood.
French President Emmanuel Macron previously announced that France will recognize Palestine during the U.N.’s General Assembly gathering in September. U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer has said Britain will follow suit unless Israel agrees to a ceasefire and begins a long-term peace process in the coming eight weeks.
France and the UK are currently the only G7 countries pledging recognition of Palestine.
Israel, which boycotted the conference along with the United States, opposes the two-state solution in its current form. Israeli Ambassador to the U.N., Danny Danon, harshly criticized the participating countries. He accused them of legitimizing terrorism, saying, “While our hostages are languishing in Hamas terror tunnels in Gaza, these countries choose to engage in hollow statements instead of investing their efforts in their release. This is hypocrisy and a waste of time.”
In response, Cutajar said recognition is a practical and necessary step toward achieving a just and lasting peace.
During the conference, leaders reiterated their support for the two-state solution and called on countries that have not yet recognized Palestine to do so promptly. The seven-page “New York Declaration,” signed by over 40 nations, outlines a phased plan for ending the conflict and establishing an independent, demilitarized Palestinian state living peacefully alongside Israel.
Additionally, a one-page statement titled the “New York Call,” signed by 15 Western nations, urges global recognition of Palestine as “an essential step” toward peace. This group includes both countries that have already recognized Palestine and others that have expressed their intent to do so — such as Malta, Andorra, Australia, Canada, Finland, Luxembourg, New Zealand, Portugal, and San Marino.
Recognition of Palestine at the U.N. General Assembly in September could mark a turning point in diplomatic efforts to resolve the decades-long conflict and pave the way for renewed negotiations.
