Israel-Palestine conflict

Finland's Stubb ready to recognize the state of Palestine

Finland is the latest country to announce that it is ready to recognize the state of Palestine, reports the Finnish news agency STT.

President Alexander Stubb announces that he is ready to sign a bill if the government were to propose it.

- We have been discussing this difficult issue since the beginning of October 2023. Now I believe that the situation has reached a point where Finland must make its choice, says Stubb.

Among the government parties, the Christian Democrats and the True Finns have opposed such a proposal.

A number of countries have made similar statements in recent days, including France, Canada and the United Kingdom.

Germany: The process towards recognition must start now

A German recognition of Palestine will take time, but the process towards it “must start now”, according to the country’s Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul, reports the BBC.

– More and more countries, including in Europe, are preparing to recognize a Palestinian state without a prior negotiation plan, says Wadephul and continues:

– With our special responsibility for Israel, we cannot ignore this.

So far, several European countries such as France and Britain have said that they are ready to recognize Palestine in connection with the UN General Assembly in September. According to Wadephul, a German recognition could rather happen “at the end of the process”.

Expert: Trump’s threat could cause Canada to back down on Palestine

Donald Trump’s threat that there will be no trade agreement if Canada recognizes the state of Palestine could make the country hesitate. This is what Middle East expert Anders Persson tells Ekot.

– It is very possible that Canada will choose to back down and not implement it.

It was on Thursday morning, Swedish time, that Trump wrote that it would be “very difficult” to get a trade agreement between the US and Canada if the latter country recognizes Palestine.

According to Persson, the statement represents a tougher tone from the White House, which had previously let France and Britain’s statements about recognizing Palestine pass.