VALLETTA (MALTA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Prime Minister Robert Abela has rejected claims that Malta’s hesitation to formally recognise the State of Palestine is the result of pressure from Israel or the United States.
“I totally exclude any form of external pressures,” Abela stated during a press conference, following a ministerial statement two days ago.
Abela reaffirmed that Malta’s position remains tied to the outcome of an upcoming United Nations conference, whose date has yet to be confirmed. “We are now waiting for the conference to be assigned a date, and then we will evaluate what position countries like France will be taking,” he said. “If the circumstances we had discussed ahead of the declaration are met, we will proceed.”
Abela maintained that Malta has consistently supported a ceasefire and a two-state solution, and said the country’s response to the aftermath of the October 7 attacks reflected a balanced and consistent approach.
In May, Abela had pledged that Malta would formally recognise Palestinian statehood during a UN conference scheduled for June. However, that conference—originally set for 20 June—was postponed after Israel launched a military strike against Iran, delaying the decision.
Malta, along with three other European countries, had in March 2024 expressed readiness to recognise the State of Palestine when conditions allowed. Of those four, Malta remains the only country yet to follow through. While Malta already supports the right of Palestinians to a future state, it has yet to grant official recognition.
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(ITALPRESS).
