ALBAWABA - Irish media reports revealed that several European Union members are planning on jointly recognizing the State of Palestine on May 21, in light of the ongoing Israeli aggression on Gaza.
Former Irish Taoiseach (Prime Minister) Leo Varadkar and his Spanish, Maltese, and Slovenian counterparts issued a joint statement on March 22 stating that they had addressed their "readiness to recognize Palestine and said that we would do so when it can make a positive contribution and the circumstances are right".
On May 6, Taoiseach Simon Harris spoke with his Spanish counterpart Pedro Sanchez, in what a government official described as "a good and thorough call" about the "grave situation in the Middle East".
Tanaiste (Deputy Prime Minister) Micheal Martin stated at a Green Party meeting that Ireland will intervene in the genocide case at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) as soon as South Africa files its substantive case, which he expects to happen by October, according to the broadcaster.
If the plan moves forward, the four countries would be joining more than 141 countries that officially recognize the state of Palestine across the world.
Earlier in April, Palestinian envoy to the UN Riyad Mansour sent a letter to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres requesting renewed consideration of its membership application.
The State of Palestine was admitted as an observer state to the UN General Assembly in 2012, allowing its envoy to participate in discussions and UN bodies but not vote.
The supporters' letter to the council president named 140 countries that have recognized Palestine as a state, including members of the United Nations' 22-nation Arab Group, the 57-nation Organization of Islamic Cooperation, and the 120-member Nonaligned Movement.
On September 23, 2011, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas presented the Palestinian Authority's application to become the 194th member of the United Nations to then-Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon before speaking to world leaders at the General Assembly.
