Portugal will formally acknowledge a Palestinian state on Sunday, Lisbon’s international ministry mentioned on Friday, forward of a UN Basic Meeting the place round 10 different international locations are set to comply with swimsuit.
Britain, Canada and France are among the many different Western nations planning to offer a Palestinian state recognition on the meeting, which comes as Israel’s marketing campaign towards Hamas within the Gaza Strip grinds on.
Lisbon had already introduced in July that it supposed to take action given the “extraordinarily worrying evolution of the battle,” in addition to the humanitarian disaster and Israel’s repeated threats to annex the West Financial institution.
“The ministry of international affairs confirms that Portugal will acknowledge the State of Palestine… the official declaration of recognition can be made on Sunday, September 21,” an announcement on the ministry’s web site mentioned.
Israel has fiercely criticized plans for Palestinian recognition, arguing that it rewards Hamas for its October 7, 2023, assault that sparked the struggle in Gaza.
Earlier Friday, an adviser to French President Emmanuel Macron mentioned Andorra, Australia, Belgium, Luxembourg, Malta and San Marino additionally plan to acknowledge the state of Palestine.
French President Emmanuel Macron, left, seems at Portuguese Prime Minister Luis Montenegro whereas addressing journalists on the Porto Metropolis Corridor, in Porto, Portugal, February 28, 2025. (AP Photograph/Luis Vieira)
Starting on Monday, subsequent week’s UN Basic Meeting in New York is ready to be dedicated to the query of the so-called two state resolution to the long-running Israel-Palestinian battle.
Round three-quarters of the 193 members of United Nations already acknowledge the state of Palestine, which the Basic Meeting accredited de facto recognition of in 2012 by upgrading its observer standing on the world physique to “non-member state” from “entity.” Solely a handful of the 27 European Union members at present acknowledge a Palestinian state, largely former Communist international locations in addition to Sweden and Cyprus.
‘Mobilizing to stop PA’s monetary collapse’
Alongside the Basic Meeting, France and Saudi Arabia will co-chair a convention in New York subsequent week on the two-state resolution. Forward of the confab, the 2 international locations have been working with Norway and Spain to rally international locations round an emergency support bundle to stop the Palestinian Authority’s collapse whereas Israel withholds tons of of hundreds of thousands of {dollars} that belong to Ramallah, in line with a letter to potential donor states obtained by The Occasions of Israel.
For 4 consecutive months, far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has been refusing to switch clearance revenues that Israel collects on the PA’s behalf. These funds make up nearly all of Ramallah’s funds and their withholding has introduced the PA to brink of collapse.
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich gestures towards a map of the West Financial institution throughout a press convention on the Finance Ministry in Jerusalem, September 3, 2025. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
The letter to potential donor international locations who can be attending a French-Saudi two-state resolution convention on the UN on Monday says that members are anticipated to demand Israel launch the Palestinian funds.
Nonetheless, organizers appeared resigned to the chance that Jerusalem is not going to budge on the difficulty and due to this fact set a fundraising aim of $200 million for every of the following six months to cowl the PA’s working bills.
“Assist to the restoration of the non-public sector and the functioning of important industrial actors, together with Palestinian banks, can be wanted,” the letter says.
A European diplomat teold The Occasions of Israel that the 4 taking part international locations have already agreed to donate $200 million a month to the PA for six months, however are hoping that different international locations assist share the burden.
“The Palestinian Authority is engaged in implementing an bold reform agenda, aiming at structural transformations that lay the muse for a contemporary, clear, and accountable State,” mentioned the international ministers of Saudi Arabia, France, Norway and Spain, as they sought to justify one other worldwide fundraising marketing campaign for Ramallah.
Saudi Arabia’s inclusion within the effort is especially noteworthy, as Riyadh beforehand was one in all PA President Mahmoud Abbas’s greatest critics, accusing him of corruption.
The main Arab nation’s inclusion within the effort offers Ramallah’s latest reform efforts a lift of legitimacy.
A handout image offered by the Palestinian Authority’s press workplace (PPO) reveals PA President Mahmoud Abbas (L) assembly with Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman in Riyadh on August 27, 2024. (Thaer Ghanaim / PPO / AFP)
The letter says the PA is dealing with an “existential risk” because of the withholding of clearance revenues on prime of the Israel-Hamas struggle in Gaza, settler violence within the West Financial institution and blocks on transfers to Palestinian banks.
“A viable Palestinian state able to fulfilling the wants and aspirations of the Palestinian individuals can be important for a way forward for peace and safety within the Center East,” the 4 international locations mentioned.
“We due to this fact must urgently mobilize to stop a monetary collapse of the Palestinian Authority, with extreme implications for Palestinian society, regional stability, and worldwide safety,” the letter continues. “Monetary shortcoming can’t be the reason for the failure of the Palestinian State and destabilization of the Center East.”
“We have to act now, and with this goal, we suggest to swiftly coordinate within the coming days an emergency coalition for Palestine,” the letter states.
