UN special rapporteurs called on all states to recognize Palestine to achieve peace in the Middle East, according to a statement by UN special rapporteurs released by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR).
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“All states must follow the example of the 146 UN member states and recognize the State of Palestine, and use all political and diplomatic resources at their disposal to ensure an immediate ceasefire in Gaza,” the document says.
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UN experts believe that this is a necessary condition for achieving lasting peace in Palestine and throughout the Middle East, as well as “an important recognition of the rights of the Palestinian people and their struggle and suffering for freedom and independence.” They welcomed the recent recognition of Palestine by Norway, Ireland and Spain, which came after the UN General Assembly voted overwhelmingly – 143 to nine – to support Palestine’s bid for full UN membership.
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“While the prospect of lasting peace and an end to occupation remains unclear since the Oslo Accords more than 30 years ago, the political solution cannot be abandoned. The two-state solution remains the only internationally accepted path to peace and security for Palestine and Israel and a way out of long-term cycles of violence and discontent,” the statement quoted the special representatives as saying.
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Until May 23, nine EU countries recognized Palestine. Eight countries – Bulgaria, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Malta, Poland, Romania and Slovakia – took this step in 1988, before joining the EU, and Sweden in 2014.
