More than three-quarters of UN member states have recognized the state of Palestine declared by the Palestinian leadership 35 years ago.

The last country to recognize, today, the Palestinian state is Armenia, while Israel’s months-long war in Gaza strengthens positions in favor of official recognition.

According to the list compiled by the Palestinian Authority and the latest announcements by the governments of the countries, 147 countries out of the 193 UN members have now recognized the Palestinian state.

Before Armenia, four European countries, Spain, Ireland, Norway and Slovenia, and four Caribbean countries, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados and the Bahamas, were added to the list from which most are absent. Western European and North American countries, Australia, Japan and South Korea.

In mid-April, the US vetoed the UN Security Council’s decision to admit Palestine as a full member of the international body.

1988 and first recognitions

On November 15, 1988, a few months after the start of the first Intifada, the leader of the Palestine Liberation Organization, Yasser Arafat, proceeds to declare “the State of Palestine” with Jerusalem as its capital from Algiers and the platform of the Palestinian National Council which it functions as a Palestinian parliament-in-exile. A few minutes later, Algeria officially recognized the new state.

A week later, 40 countries, including China, India, Turkey and most Arab countries recognize the Palestinian state. Almost all the countries of Africa and the Soviet bloc will follow.

In 2010 and 2011, most Central and Latin American countries followed suit, distancing themselves on the international stage from the United States, a major ally of Israel.

2012, with one foot in the UN

Under the presidency of Mahmoud Abbas, the successor of Yasser Arafat who died in 2004, the Palestinian Authority, established by the Oslo Accords (1993) on Palestinian autonomy, is launching a diplomatic offensive at the level of international institutions.

In a historic vote in November 2012, the State of Palestine secured observer status at the United Nations. Absent full voting member status, this gives it access to UN services and international treaties.

Thus, in 2015, the Palestinians entered the International Criminal Court, which allowed investigations into Israeli military operations in the occupied Palestinian territories. The US and Israel denounce this decision.

Unesco admits the State of Palestine in October 2011 as a full member. Israel and the United States leave the organization in 2018. The US will return in 2023.

2014, Sweden at the vanguard of the European Union

In 2014, Sweden became the first country in the European Union to recognize the state of Palestine. The Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Bulgaria, Romania and Cyprus have proceeded with recognition before joining the European Union.

The Stockholm decision, which comes at a time when efforts to resolve the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians are deadlocked, is leading to a deterioration in Sweden’s relations with Israel.

2024, coordinated movement of European countries

For many years it was believed that the official recognition of the Palestinian state should be the result of a peace process with Israel. But in a concerted move at the end of May, Ireland and Spain, two members of the European Union, along with Norway followed Sweden’s path, angering Benjamin Netanyahu.

Slovenia does the same in early June

French President Emmanuel Macron has stated in February that “the recognition of a Palestinian state is not a taboo for France.” But in early June, the French government rejected immediate recognition of a Palestinian state on the grounds that this should be done at the right time.

Malta left open the possibility of recognizing a Palestinian state in March, as did Australia in April.