Still, Veldkamp ruled out unilateral recognition of Palestine, saying, “At this moment, there is no process underway. Recognizing a Palestinian state now will not make much of a difference on the ground.”
‘Political gesture’
Italy, another key player, is waiting to see the outcome of the U.N. meeting in September before deciding whether to back recognition.
“If Hamas remains, then declaring the willingness to immediately recognize Palestine as a state is a political gesture, not an anathema,” said one Italian official, speaking on condition of anonymity. “But we need to see what opportunities may arise in a week’s time. As things progress with the current situation, or rather the continuation of Israeli military attacks, even the Italian government could change its mind,” he added.
In Belgium, Foreign Minister Maxime Prévot said that any decision on recognition will be postponed until at least early September. The country’s five governing parties remain split on the issue, though opposition groups are intensifying calls for Belgium to align with France’s position.
By contrast, Spain, Ireland, and Slovenia have already taken the step to recognize Palestinian statehood, a signal that the EU consensus is fracturing further as pressure mounts for a more coordinated response to the war in Gaza.
Inside the Commission, divisions are increasingly public. European Commission Vice President Teresa Ribera broke ranks in a radio interview on Wednesday, accusing the Commission of dragging its feet.
