Recognition of the State of Palestine is the question of whether a government formally acknowledges the State of Palestine as a sovereign state. As of September 2025, Palestine is recognized by 157 of the 193 United Nations member states, just over 81 percent of the total, but has held only non-member observer status at the UN since November 2012, a limited standing that stems primarily from the United States' veto power on the Security Council, since the other four permanent members recognize Palestinian statehood. Governments differ sharply on timing and conditions: some treat recognition as a step that can advance a two-state solution, others hold that it should follow rather than precede direct negotiations.
Cross-Tradition Connections
Associated With
Opposes
Opposition is to recognition through UN Security Council action ahead of negotiations, not to Palestinian statehood itself; the US continued to state support for an eventual two-state solution.
Supports
France formally recognized the State of Palestine at the UN General Assembly, co-convening the recognition summit with Saudi Arabia.
India recognized the State of Palestine in 1988, one of the first countries to do so, and continues to support a negotiated two-state solution alongside its own separate relations with Israel.
Conditional
Germany ties recognition of a Palestinian state to a negotiated two-state process rather than granting it unilaterally; Foreign Minister Wadephul has stated recognition comes at the end of that process, which Germany says must start now.
Quote is Foreign Secretary Lord Cameron's own words on recognising a Palestinian state, as recorded in Hansard when another peer quoted his statement from the previous day's FCDO Questions.
Sources
International Recognition of the State of Palestine (Wikipedia)
WikipediaLead sectionQuote, Lead section
As of September 2025, the State of Palestine is recognized as a sovereign state by 157 of the 193 member states of the United Nations (UN), or just over 81% of all UN members.
Explanation of Vote at a UN Security Council Meeting on Palestinian Membership (US Mission to the United Nations)
United States Mission to the United NationsPosition Held By: Biden Administration, Explanation of vote, 18 April 2024Quote, Position Held By: Biden Administration, Explanation of vote, 18 April 2024
This vote does not reflect opposition to Palestinian statehood, but instead is an acknowledgement that it will only come from direct negotiations between the parties.
UK Formally Recognises Palestinian State (GOV.UK)
UK Government (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office / Prime Minister's Office)Position Held By: Starmer Government, GOV.UK news, 21 September 2025Quote, Position Held By: Starmer Government, GOV.UK news, 21 September 2025
The UK has formally recognised Palestine to protect the viability of a two-state solution and create a path towards lasting peace for the Israeli and Palestinian people.
Situation in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories, House of Lords Hansard, 30 January 2024 (UK Parliament)
UK Parliament (Hansard)Position Held By: Sunak Government, House of Lords Hansard, 30 January 2024, col. as recordedQuote, Position Held By: Sunak Government, House of Lords Hansard, 30 January 2024, col. as recorded
as that happens, we with allies will look at the issue of recognising a Palestinian state, including at the United Nations
Germany and the Palestinian territories: Bilateral relations (Federal Foreign Office)
Federal Foreign Office of Germany (Auswartiges Amt)Position Held By: Merz Government, Bilateral relations page, Palestinian territoriesQuote, Position Held By: Merz Government, Bilateral relations page, Palestinian territories
Germany is contributing to the establishment of a future Palestinian state as part of a two-state solution negotiated between the parties to the conflict.
India Reaffirms Support for Two-State Solution in Palestine-Israel Conflict, 13 December 2024 (NewsOnAir)
Prasar Bharati (Government of India, All India Radio / NewsOnAir)Position Held By: Modi III Government, India reaffirms support for two-state solution, 13 December 2024Quote, Position Held By: Modi III Government, India reaffirms support for two-state solution, 13 December 2024
India's policy towards Palestine has been long-standing and it has always supported a negotiated two-state solution
France recognizes Palestinian statehood ahead of UN General Assembly (PBS NewsHour)
PBS NewsHourPosition Held By: Macron Presidency, Macron speech, UN General Assembly high-level summit, New York, 22 September 2025, as reported by PBS NewsHourQuote, Position Held By: Macron Presidency, Macron speech, UN General Assembly high-level summit, New York, 22 September 2025, as reported by PBS NewsHour
True to the historic commitment of my country to the Middle East, to peace between the Israelis and the Palestinians, this is why I declare that today, France recognizes the state of Palestine.
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