The anticipated recognition of the State of Palestine and its dimensions, prospects, and implications.

Several countries, including France, Canada, Belgium, and others, are expected to officially recognize an independent Palestinian state on Monday, September 22, 2025. This action coincides with a summit held before the United Nations General Assembly in New York. The aim of this diplomatic step is to pressure Israel to end its military campaign in Gaza and commit to resuming the peace process.

Countries planning to recognize

Australia: Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced Australia's plan to recognize a Palestinian state during the United Nations General Assembly in September 2025.

Belgium: Announced its intention to recognize a Palestinian state at the United Nations meeting on Monday.

Canada: Will join the official recognition alongside other countries on Monday.

France: President Emmanuel Macron is the main driving force behind the summit and will lead France's recognition of a Palestinian state.

Luxembourg, Malta, San Marino, and Andorra: An advisor to President Macron indicated that these countries also plan to recognize Palestine at the meeting on Monday.

Portugal: Despite a separate announcement, Portugal confirmed that it will recognize Palestine on Sunday, September 21, before the United Nations conference.

The United Kingdom: Although recognition is conditional on Israeli actions regarding the humanitarian crisis and the peace process, the United Kingdom indicated that it will recognize Palestine close to the convening of the United Nations General Assembly.

This step comes in the following context:

Increasing international pressure: Recent announcements follow a year of increasing international support for the Palestinian state. In 2024, Norway, Spain, Ireland, and Slovenia were among the countries that officially recognized Palestine.

A shift in Western policy: For decades, many Western countries, especially G7 nations, have argued that the Palestinian state should be part of a negotiated two-state solution with Israel. However, recent decisions indicate a shift in this position.

These steps have received mixed reactions.

The Palestinian Authority: The Palestinian Authority welcomed this recognition as a step towards a two-state solution.

Israel: Israeli officials condemned the recognition steps, claiming they "reward terrorism" following the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023.

The United States: The United States expressed its disapproval of the planned recognition, with President Donald Trump echoing Israeli criticisms verbatim.

The meaning of recognition:

When a significant country recognizes the state of Palestine, it is considered an acknowledgment of legitimacy and sovereignty, expressing acceptance of the idea that Palestinians have the right to political sovereignty over their territories (the West Bank, Gaza, and East Jerusalem). This gives recognition a form of international legitimacy to the Palestinian state's endeavors.

Recognition also represents an alignment with the two-state solution, and this recognition is often linked to official support for the option of two states (a Palestinian state and an Israeli state) living side by side in peace. The involvement of influential countries reduces the justifications that claim recognition harms Israel's security if done in a manner that respects the Palestinians' commitment to recognizing Israel and its security, and halting "hostilities."

It also conveys a strong political and symbolic message, even if recognition does not bring immediate changes on the ground; it holds significant symbolic value: moral support for the Palestinian people, political pressure on Israel, and a call for other countries to take similar stances. It is seen as an indicator of changing international balances, and as Western or influential countries approach recognition, there is a shift in traditional positions, possibly a reevaluation of alliances, and perhaps a redefinition of the American and European roles in future agreements, especially if there is a conflict with Israeli positions or with those of Israel's allies.

Dimensions

International law

Recognition means that the recognizing countries consider Palestine a "entity" that enjoys the rights of a legal state, opening the door for practices such as bringing Palestine to lawsuits before international courts, protecting human rights, and the possibility of using the status of "state" in international treaties.

However, this is not as strong as full membership in the United Nations, which requires approval from the Security Council and would face a U