Denmark’s parliament is set to vote next Tuesday on a proposal to recognize Palestine as an independent state, following similar moves by Norway, Ireland, and Spain. The vote, reported by state-run media outlet the Danish Broadcasting Corporation, comes amid ongoing international discussions about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Trine Pertou Mach, the foreign affairs spokesperson for the opposition Red-Green Alliance, urged government parties to support the measure. “The government parties will also have a chance to vote for this when we vote next week. And I would like to clearly urge the government to change its position and follow Norway and the other European countries,” Mach stated.
The proposal is backed by the Red-Green Alliance, the Social Liberals, the Alternative, and the Socialist People’s Party. However, the Danish government has expressed its opposition to the resolution. Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen articulated the government’s stance, citing the lack of control over territory and governance as key issues. “To be a state, you have to have a territory you have control over and some authorities that can control it. And that is not exactly the situation right now,” Rasmussen explained.
He further noted the complexities of the situation, highlighting the stances of Hamas in Gaza and the current Israeli government. “Right now, we have a Hamas in Gaza that does not want a two-state solution. We have a government in Israel that does not seem to have much appetite for a two-state solution either,” Rasmussen added.
In response, Trine Pertou Mach emphasized the importance of political recognition for peace efforts. “It starts with Palestine also being recognized as an independent state so that the two parties are more equal in the negotiations that are to come,” she said.
Despite these appeals, the government’s opposition suggests that the proposal may not garner enough support to pass. The upcoming vote follows recent announcements by Norway, Ireland, and Spain, all of which declared their recognition of Palestine effective May 28.
These European countries’ decisions come amid heightened tensions and ongoing conflict in the Gaza Strip, where Israel has continued its offensive since October 7, 2023, despite a UN Security Council resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire.