Luxembourg, through its Prime Minister 
"Luxembourg's recognition of the State of Palestine is fully in line with Luxembourg's historic and ongoing commitment to the two-State solution, the only viable way to achieve a just, lasting peace based on the peaceful and secure coexistence of the State of Israel and the State of Palestine. Through this recognition, Luxembourg is therefore reaffirming its support for the two-state solution, which respects the Palestinians' fundamental right to self-determination and guarantees the security of the Israeli people and the State of Israel," detailed the Prime Minister.
He was careful to point out that "recognition of the State of Palestine is not a measure against the State of Israel or its people, which Luxembourg has recognised since Israel was admitted as a member of the United Nations on 11 May 1949. Recognition of the State of Palestine is a measure in favour of peace between the two States and the two peoples."
The 1967 borders
Important point: Luxembourg recognises the State of Palestine on the basis of the 1967 borders, preceding Israel's occupation of the Palestinian Territory in accordance with UN Security Council Resolution 2334 of 2016. That is, a unified territory comprising Gaza, the West Bank and East Jerusalem, a territory to be governed by the Palestinian Authority and not by Hamas.
For Luc Frieden, recognition of the State of Palestine must be accompanied by concrete measures to support peace efforts and the implementation of the two-State solution as defined by the International Conference on the Peaceful Settlement of the Palestinian Question, held from 28 to 30 July in New York, a diplomatic initiative jointly led by France and Saudi Arabia. It called for "an urgent ceasefire and unimpeded access and distribution of humanitarian aid throughout the Gaza Strip".
A historic date, surely...
And now? The date will surely go down in history. Before the opening of this special session of the United Nations, "only" 148 of the 193 UN member states had recognised Palestine. Including the Vatican. "Only? Since Palestine's declaration of independence on 15 November 1988 after the first intifada by the Palestinian National Council, all the Western powers allied with the United States had been careful not to do so.
In 2015, Sweden became the first country then a member of the European Union to recognise the Palestinian state. Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria and Cyprus were not yet members of the EU when they recognised the Palestinian State.
In 2024, in the context of the invasion of Gaza, Norway, Ireland, Spain, Slovenia and Armenia recognised Palestine. On Sunday 21 September, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and Portugal recognised the State of Palestine. And on Monday, they were joined by Luxembourg, France, Belgium, Malta and San Marino. Giorgia Melloni's Italy will not be taking this step.
Sanctions, a remarkable absence
The fact that major Western states recognise Palestine is a turning point and a diplomatic failure by Jerusalem and Washington. But it is a turning point that will have no impact on the ground in the short term.
Firstly, on the legal front. Once recognised, the Palestinian State will be able to open embassies in the countries that have recognised it. But Palestine will not be admitted to the United Nations, where it has sat as an observer since 2012. Full membership must be validated by the Security Council and the United States is opposing this through its right of veto on the UN Security Council.
On the front line, Israel is stepping up its strikes on Gaza with the intention of emptying it of its occupants. At the same time, settlers in the West Bank are cleaning up their act, while the government is making new settlements official. In other words, without sanctions, recognition is nothing, and the EU is divided on this point. Since diplomatic decisions are taken unanimously, the sanctions sought by the European Commission are illusory. And on this point, Luxembourg will not take solitary initiatives, as Luc Frieden reminded us.
Illusory also is the prospect of free elections in Palestine. It is clear that for the Israeli government, which has announced sanctions following this vote, these sanctions will above all result in the extension of the colonisation of the West Bank and the intensification of the battle for Gaza. From this point of view, this recognition is also a poisoned chalice for the Palestinians.
This article was originally published in French.
