Portugal mulls over recognising Palestinian state, Gaza gets more attention

LISBON/STOCKHOLM: The Portuguese government will consult the president and parliament on the question of recognising the Palestinian state at the UN in September, Prime Minister Luis Montenegro’s office said Thursday.

Portugal “is considering recognition of the Palestinian state, as part of a procedure that could be concluded during the high-level week of the 80th United Nations General Assembly, to be held in New York in September”, the statement said.

Read more: France, 14 other nations urge recognition of Palestinian state

The announcement came as more and more countries are joining the list of those ready to accept the Palestinian state after France and Saudi Arabia led the push for the two-state solution.

It means public sentiments are forcing the Western nations to ignore the US pressure, which said the UN conference on the two-state solution was a “publicity stunt“.

Similarly, US President Donald Trump called his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron’s announcement to recognise the Palestinian state a “meaningless” exercise.

SUSPEND EU TRADE PACT WITH ISRAEL

Also on Thursday, Sweden called on the EU to suspend the trade part of its association agreement with Israel over its conduct of the war in Gaza.

“The situation in Gaza is absolutely appalling, and Israel is failing to fulfil its most basic obligations and agreements on emergency aid,” Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said in a post to X.

Read more: Over 60,000 killed in Gaza where famine is unfolding

“Sweden therefore demands that the EU freeze the trade section of the association agreement as soon as possible,” Kristersson said, calling on the Israeli government to allow “unhindered humanitarian aid into Gaza.”

Read more: Canada set to recognise a Palestinian state in September

The EU’s association agreement with Israel is a framework for trade and political relations. The bloc is Israel’s largest trading partner, accounting for nearly a third of Israel’s global trade, according to EU data.

Kristersson’s statement comes two days after a similar stance was taken by the Netherlands.

Dutch Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp said that the Netherlands would push to suspend the trade element of the EU-Israel Association Agreement if Israel fails to meet its humanitarian obligations.

The Israel-Hamas war in Gaza has deeply divided EU members.

Several member states, including Germany, insist on Israel’s right to defend itself within the bounds of international law, while others, such as Spain, denounce a “genocide” against Gaza’s Palestinians.

An EU report, presented to the 27 member states at the end of June, found that Israel may have fallen short of its human rights obligations under is EU cooperation agreement.