The Slovenian Parliament has officially recognized the State of Palestine, a move that Speaker Orska Klakocar Zupancic believes will contribute to achieving peace in the Middle East and enable Palestine to establish international relations. Zupancic, in an interview with Al Jazeera, expressed optimism that this recognition would lay the groundwork for a ceasefire and eventually permanent peace, especially after recent escalation in Gaza.
She emphasized that if more countries follow Slovenia's lead, it would bolster Palestine’s position, allowing it to engage with Israel on an equal footing. The Slovenian official expressed great joy over her country’s action, highlighting that the Palestinian flag was proudly raised in front of the Slovenian Parliament. She also congratulated the Palestinian people on this significant recognition.
Drawing parallels between Slovenia’s history and the Palestinian struggle, Zupancic noted, "Slovenia shares a history with Palestine as we became an independent state 30 years ago. We understand what the Palestinians are going through." She elaborated on the procedural aspects of the recognition, which requires government proposal and parliamentary approval. Despite facing some procedural hurdles, she confirmed that the decision had passed, though some opposition politicians might challenge it in the Constitutional Court.
On Tuesday, the Slovenian Parliament approved the recognition by a majority vote, following the coalition’s decision to proceed despite opposition attempts to postpone the vote. Prime Minister Robert Golub announced the recognition of Palestine on the 1967 borders, making Slovenia the fourth country to do so in recent days, following Spain, Norway, and Ireland. This increases the number of countries recognizing Palestine to 147 out of the 193 United Nations member states.
The vote saw 52 out of 90 Slovenian Parliament members in favor, with the opposition largely boycotting the session except for one abstention. The Slovenian Democratic Party (SDS), led by former Prime Minister Janez Jansa, attempted to delay the vote with a proposal for a consultative referendum. However, Parliament President Zupancic ruled this as an abuse of the referendum mechanism, stating that the 30-day delay rule applied to bills, not decrees. Despite a chaotic session disrupted by procedural disputes, the motion to delay was rejected and the recognition decree passed.
Prime Minister Robert Golub emphasized that the decision sends a 'message of peace,' advocating for a global united effort toward a two-state solution in the Middle East. Contrary to Jansa’s claims that the recognition supports terrorism, Golub stressed that this move is a step towards peace and stability in the region.
- The decision to recognize Palestine comes amid heightened tensions and recent escalations in Gaza, making Slovenia’s move particularly significant and timely.
- The Slovenian Democratic Party's opposition to the recognition highlights the deep political divides within Slovenia regarding Middle Eastern policy and international relations.
- The international community's response to Slovenia's decision has been varied, with some seeing it as a bold step towards peace, while others view it critically due to existing geopolitical alliances.
