Portugal is contributing to a solution between Israel and Palestine

Prime Minister Luís Montenegro stated that "we are on a gradual, sure, consistent path so we can contribute with our decision to a solution" because "I want peace in the Middle East, I want peace between Israel and Palestine, and I want human rights safeguarded", adding that "there is a clear infringement of international law, namely in Gaza".

The Prime Minister showed pride that "Portuguese diplomacy is having an active role in the context of major decisions which, from the perspective of international organisations, have had a positive development", he said in a statement in Valpaços following the opening of the Alzheimer and Parkinson Portugal Relevance Centre.

Achieving the two-State solution (Israel and Palestine) so they can live in safety and peace "presumes that each of the steps taken until this is reached should not hinder the end goal". Accordingly, "a haphazard recognition of a Palestinian State that is not sustained and without meeting certain conditions does not contribute towards solving the problem".

Noting that "more than 140 countries" recognising a Palestinian State did not change anything on the ground, we "want our position" with the partners with whom we are coordinating this process" to be able to influence what is happening on the ground ".

As such, these countries "have the evolution depend on a check on the ground of some conditions", those defined by the Government and presented in Parliament by the Prime Minister: 

• Condemning Hamas’s terrorist acts and disarming it

• The unconditional and immediate release of the Gaza refugees and prisoners

• An internal institutional reform and holding elections in a near future

• A demilitarised Palestinian State, whose security is assured by international forces

• Resuming the administration and full control of Gaza with Hamas withdrawing

• Recognising the Israeli State and necessary security assurances.

In a  statement, the Office of the Prime Minister clarified that Due to the multiple contacts made, it was seen that many of the States with which Portugal has been aligning its position on the matter showed they are available to initiate the procedure to recognise a Palestinian State, given:

• the assurances presented by the Palestinian Authority

• the provision of the recognition and normalisation of relations with Israel by a significant number of Arab States

• the conflict’ worrying escalation, whether the humanitarian dimension or the repeated allusion made to the annexation of Palestinian territories.

Given these conditions, the Government decided to listen to his Excellency the President of the Republic and all the parties represented in Parliament "with a view to considering recognising the Palestinian State" at the 80th General Assembly of the United Nations to be held in New York in September.