Malta to Recognize State of Palestine at UN General Assembly

Malta's Prime Minister Robert Abela confirmed that Malta will formally recognize the state of Palestine during the 80th UN General Assembly, reiterating the island nation's long-standing support for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. This decision follows a series of announcements from other countries, including the UK, Canada, Australia, and Portugal, which recognized Palestine earlier on Sunday. The recognition aims to bolster efforts towards a lasting settlement, with Abela calling for an unconditional release of all remaining hostages held by Hamas and a permanent ceasefire in Gaza. The move is part of Malta's commitment to peace in the Middle East through dialogue and the establishment of two states.

Key Takeaways:

• Malta will formally recognize the state of Palestine during the 80th UN General Assembly, in line with its long-standing support for a two-state solution.
• The recognition is a part of Malta's commitment to peace in the Middle East through dialogue and the establishment of two states.
• Robert Abela, the Prime Minister of Malta, emphasized the need for an unconditional release of all remaining hostages held by Hamas and a permanent ceasefire in Gaza.
• Eleven other countries, including Malta, Luxembourg, France, Belgium, and Armenia, declared plans to extend the recognition during the UN General Assembly's 80th session this month in New York.
• The total number of UN member states that have recognized Palestine has reached 153, with several other countries announcing their intention to do so.

Statistics:

• 153 UN member states have recognized Palestine, out of a total of 193 member states.
• 11 countries, including Malta, Luxembourg, France, Belgium, and Armenia, have announced plans to extend recognition during the UN General Assembly's 80th session this month.

Sources:

• The Prime Minister's office in Malta
• Reuters news agency
• Malta's prompt to attend the 80th UN General Assembly this month.