'Order of Maritime Merit' bestowed on Omani official
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Observer
01-08-2025
- Observer
Canada plans to recognise Palestine, Portugal ponders
Oman has welcomed the announcement by the Prime Ministers of Canada and Malta regarding their countries' intent to recognise the State of Palestine. In a statement issued by the Foreign Ministry, Oman commended this diplomatic development as a substantive and serious step towards upholding the Palestinian people's right to self-determination. The move reflects the international community's commitment to the two-state solution and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state, advancing the goal of a just and lasting peace in the Middle East. Canada plans to recognise the State of Palestine at a meeting of the United Nations in September, Prime Minister Mark Carney announced, ratcheting up pressure on Israel as starvation spreads in Gaza. Malta will declare recognition of a Palestinian state during the general assembly of the United Nations in September, Prime Minister Robert Abela said. Portugal will also consider whether to recognise the State of Palestine at the UN in September, Prime Minister Luis Montenegro's office said on Thursday. The announcements came after France said last week it would recognise a Palestinian state and a day after Britain said it would recognise the state at September's UN General Assembly meeting if the fighting in Gaza, part of the Palestinian territories occupied by Israel, had not stopped by then. Carney told reporters that the reality on the ground, including starvation of people in Gaza, meant 'the prospect of a Palestinian state is literally receding before our eyes.' The announcements by some of Israel's closest allies reflect growing international outrage over Israel's restrictions on food and other aid to Gaza in its war against Hamas, and the dire humanitarian crisis there. A global hunger monitor has warned that a worst-case scenario of famine is unfolding in the enclave. 'The change in the position of the Canadian government at this time is a reward for Hamas and harms the efforts to achieve a ceasefire in Gaza and a framework for the release of the hostages,' the Israeli foreign ministry said in a statement. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made similar comments after the French and British announcements. A White House official said President Donald Trump also sees recognition of the State of Palestine as wrongly 'rewarding Hamas.' Unlike neighbouring Spain, whose leftist government recognised Palestinian statehood in May 2024 alongside Ireland and Norway and called on other EU countries to do the same, Portugal has taken a more cautious approach, saying it wanted to work out a common position with other EU countries first. — Agencies
Observer
30-07-2025
- Observer
UK rejects criticism over recognising Palestinian state
LONDON: Britain rejected Israeli criticism on Wednesday that it was rewarding Hamas by setting out plans to recognise a Palestinian state unless Israel took steps to improve the situation in Gaza and bring about peace. Prime Minister Keir Starmer's ultimatum, setting a September deadline, prompted an immediate rebuke from Israel's Benjamin Netanyahu, who said it rewarded Hamas. Starmer's decision follows that of French President Emmanuel Macron, who announced last week that Paris would recognise Palestinian statehood in September, becoming the first major Western power to do so, because of the dire humanitarian conditions in the enclave. The most immediate impact of Britain recognising a Palestinian state may be an upgrading of diplomatic relations, according to one British government official. Britain now hosts a Palestinian mission in London which could be upgraded to an embassy, and Britain could eventually open an embassy in the West Bank, the official said. Starmer's move 'will isolate Israel more and more, but it won't change anything on the ground,' said Azriel Bermant, a senior researcher at the Institute of International Relations Prague. — Reuters
Observer
29-07-2025
- Observer
UK to recognise Palestinian state unless Israel acts
Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced on Tuesday that the UK will formally recognise the State of Palestine in September unless Israel takes various 'substantive steps' in Gaza, including agreeing to a ceasefire. The potentially landmark move, part of a plan for 'lasting peace' that Starmer is putting forward, came after the UK leader recalled his cabinet from recess for urgent talks on the worsening situation in the besieged territory. Starmer told his ministers that London will formally recognise a Palestinian state in September if the Israeli government has not taken the steps demanded, his office said. They include ending 'the appalling situation in Gaza', reaching a ceasefire, making 'clear there will be no annexation in the West Bank', and committing 'to a long-term peace process that delivers a two-state solution,' it added. 'I have always said that we will recognise a Palestinian state as a contribution to a proper peace process at the moment of maximum impact for the two-state solution,' Starmer later said in a Downing Street address. 'With that solution now under threat, this is the moment to act.' French President Emmanuel Macron said last week that his country would formally recognise a Palestinian state during the UN General Assembly meeting in September. Starmer said, 'The UK will recognise the state of Palestine by the United Nations General Assembly in September unless the Israeli government takes substantive steps to end the appalling situation in Gaza'. Prime Minister Keir Starmer The two countries would be the first G7 nations to do so, with Macron's announcement last week drawing a strong rebuke from both Israel and the United States. However, Starmer is believed to have presented his plan for the long-running conflict in the Middle East to US President Donald Trump when the pair met in Scotland on Monday. Trump appeared to give his blessing for the recognition move, saying during a wide-ranging press conference lasting more than an hour that 'I don't mind him (Starmer) taking a position.' Speaking on Tuesday, Starmer also detailed several demands for the Palestinian group Hamas, which is holding Israeli hostages seized in its attacks on October 7, 2023. 'They must immediately release all of the hostages, sign up to a ceasefire, disarm and accept that they will play no part in the government of Gaza,' he said. The UK leader added that London 'will make an assessment in September on how far the parties have met these steps', adding: 'No one should have a veto over our decision.' Starmer has been under growing domestic and international pressure to formally recognise a Palestinian state, as the humanitarian situation in Gaza dramatically worsens. Macron publicly pressed for joint recognition of Palestine during his UK state visit earlier this month, while an increasing number of MPs in Starmer's ruling Labour party have been demanding action. — AFP
