"Today the government has decided to recognize Palestine as an independent and sovereign state," Prime Minister, Robert Golob, said at a news conference in Ljubljana.
The parliament of the European Union member country must also approve the government's decision in the coming days. The move is part of a broad effort by countries to pressure Israel to resolve the Gaza conflict.
The decision made by Slovenia’s government on Thursday met with criticism from Israel’s side, the Reuters News Agency reported.
Foreign Minister Israel Katz said the decision “rewarded Hamas for murder and rape, a reference to the Palestinian Islamist group's Oct. 7 attack on Israel that sparked the war in Gaza.”
In response, the Slovenian Prime Minister said that “this is a message of peace”, and called for an immediate ceasefire and the release of hostages.
According to Reuters, the Slovenian government raised a Palestinian flag alongside the flags of Slovenia and the EU in front of its building in downtown Ljubljana.
Of the 27 members of the European Union, Sweden, Cyprus, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Poland, Slovakia, Romania and Bulgaria have already recognized a Palestinian state. Malta has said it could follow soon.
(aj)
SOURCE: REUTERS