Sweden has become the latest country to officially recognise Palestine as a state.
The Scandinavian country's new left-leaning prime minister Stefan Löfven announced his intention to recognise the territories in his inaugural parliamentary address earlier this month and confirmed the government had made its decision today.
The past year, we’ve seen how the peace negotiations once again have halted, how decisions on new settlements on occupied Palestinian land have obstructed a two-state solution and how violence has returned to Gaza.
The government considers that international law criteria for recognition of a Palestinian state have been fulfilled.
It is an important step that confirms the Palestinians’ right to self-determination. We hope that this will show the way for others.
- Margot Wallström, Swedish foreign minister