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STOCKHOLM: Sweden on Thursday officially recognised the state of Palestine, Stockholm's foreign minister said, less than a month after the government announced its intention to take the controversial move.
“Today the government takes the the decision to recognise the state of Palestine,” Foreign Minister Margot Wallstrom said in a statement published in the Dagens Nyheter daily. “It is an important step that confirms the Palestinian's right to self-determination.“
With its reputation as an honest broker in international affairs and with an influential voice in EU foreign policy, the recognition may well make other countries sit up and pay attention at a time when the Palestinians are threatening unilateral moves towards statehood.
British lawmakers, earlier this month, had voted overwhelmingly in favour of recognising Palestine as a state, in a non-binding motion heavy with symbolism but unlikely to change government policy.
The UN General Assembly approved the de facto recognition of the sovereign state of Palestine in 2012 but the European Union and most EU countries, have yet to give official recognition.
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Oct 30, 2014 01:25pm
About time. I hope the Israeli's now take the meaning of peace seriously. The Americans can bring about the 2 state solution.
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Oct 30, 2014 01:25pm
A well brave step apart from any apparent hypocrisy!
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Oct 30, 2014 01:38pm
bravo.
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Oct 30, 2014 01:42pm
Good step by Sweden. Hope UK and Germany as well as other EU states take the move.
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Oct 30, 2014 01:51pm
great news!
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Oct 30, 2014 02:26pm
Very rare international community recognizes and supports the weak. A great and courageous decision by Sweden.
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Oct 30, 2014 02:29pm
Brave step from Swedish government.
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Oct 30, 2014 02:35pm
Sweden has earned respect of many from this decision.
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Oct 30, 2014 02:40pm
Well done Sweden!
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Oct 30, 2014 02:44pm
good to hear...
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Oct 30, 2014 02:46pm
doesn't mean much in practice because Palestine still does not have full member status in the UN. All the congratulatory messages worthing nothing, this is the bitter but real truth about Palestine.
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Oct 30, 2014 02:51pm
Congrats!Important victory for oppressed Palestinian people, who are braving the latest settlement grab by PM Netanyahu. All champions of democracy particularly bigger and generally smaller ones , should come forward to emulate the step. Hope Kashmir should also come for resolution.
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Oct 30, 2014 02:58pm
Well done Sweden, only a brave nation can take that step!
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Oct 30, 2014 03:00pm
Well done Sweden. It shows rational thinking is still there in the world
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Oct 30, 2014 03:06pm
a step in right direction. well done sweden
hopefully all countries fearful of US and Israel will follow sweden and give Palestinians their right by accepting it
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Oct 30, 2014 03:18pm
Condemnable act by Sweden. Kashmiris will demand such support then.
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Oct 30, 2014 03:23pm
The king of Sweden, the best justful king in the world. He is bold and wise.
May! He lives long.
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Oct 30, 2014 04:01pm
Salute to Sweden from India.
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Oct 30, 2014 04:13pm
@Burki 1000 miles journey begins with a single step. Brits Lawmakers have also voted in favor of recognizing Palestine and I believe the Palestinian nationhood would be an important point in the next election campaigns in UK.
Students and academics in MIT-Boston has also taken some bold steps by showing the public the real pictures of this conflicts. A recent boycott of Israeli academics from conferences by academics around the World has put enormous pressure on Israeli Govt.
Things are changing and and I hope the sacrifices from Palestinians over the past 6 decades would not go in vain.
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Oct 30, 2014 04:15pm
About time
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Oct 30, 2014 04:15pm
About time
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Oct 30, 2014 04:16pm
Good job. Kashmire next.
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Oct 30, 2014 04:21pm
It is a good news for the cause of justice in the world.
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Oct 30, 2014 04:24pm
Brave step by Sweden. Hopefully Baluchistan's claim for statehood will be recognized soon.
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Oct 30, 2014 04:46pm
Brave decision by a non-muslim country. Forget Muslim countries.
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Oct 30, 2014 04:54pm
Good. Somebody had the courage to do the right thing.
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Oct 30, 2014 05:20pm
Fantastic news...
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Oct 30, 2014 05:21pm
@Burki At least its a step in the right direction...
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Oct 30, 2014 05:49pm
Certainly good decision. Hope Islamic countries would give more respect to Sweden now.
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Oct 30, 2014 05:58pm
it shows, the world is growing up. It is not being influenced by the controllers of the world politics, money. The one that is controlling America & the western block, & have become the starters of the provocation & tribulation, The underlying cause.
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Oct 30, 2014 06:00pm
I hope India also accepts Kashmiris right to self determination. May be, I am dreaming.
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Oct 30, 2014 06:31pm
Courage, fight for truth, finally is showing up - Kudos to Sweden, I am sure Israel & Jewish lobby in US are in over drive to thwart this trend among other European nations, many countries will come around to recognize Palestinian state except Holland & Czechoslovakia , both countries act more Jewish than Jewish state of Israel.
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Oct 30, 2014 06:40pm
@Sudhakar I am afraid Kashmir first and then 20 other Indian States who are fighting for independence. Unfortunately apart from you I do not see anybody talking rubbish.
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Oct 30, 2014 06:58pm
Thank you Sweeden.
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Oct 30, 2014 07:05pm
Kashmir will be raised by Palestinian authorities , wait and watch
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Oct 30, 2014 07:12pm
Other western nations should learn from it
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Oct 30, 2014 07:13pm
Now you don't see Indians getting vocal and excited bout it
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Oct 30, 2014 07:28pm
Good News. A great nation who has accepted and recognized the right of Palestinians. Other nations must follow on the footstep of Sweden and accept the Palestine as an independent state.
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Oct 30, 2014 07:39pm
Lets see what other countries do?
Lets hope Arab dictators will come out of their shell and may do the right thing.
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Oct 30, 2014 07:50pm
very few countries of the world know the meaning of peace & freedom as well as Sweden does.
Bravo Sweden , you wish for others for you wish for yourselves..
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Oct 30, 2014 08:02pm
The Foriegn Minister of Pakistan should publicly admire this brave step of Sweden in the name of people of Pakistan. Unfortunately, we have no Foreign Minister in Islamabad since 17 months!!! The National Assembly in Pakistan should pass a resolution, thanking and admiring Sweden.
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Oct 30, 2014 08:33pm
The Swedish far right is making noises about the ever growing number of Palestinians seeking asylum in their country. Better to support Palestinian independence to help stem that rising tide.
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Oct 30, 2014 09:21pm
No Muslim country has yet recognized, Palestine state, not even Pakistan.
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Oct 30, 2014 10:02pm
Welcoming move by Sweden. I'm looking forwards more European countries listening to the voice of the conscience. But I still wonder what is the official stand of Pakistan regarding Palestinian conflict.
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Oct 30, 2014 10:15pm
@Sudhakar I don't think so
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Oct 30, 2014 10:17pm
FYI, India recognised Palestine's statehood following its own declaration on 18 November 1988. What about Pakistan??
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Oct 30, 2014 11:18pm
So now what? Sweden is going to allow Palestinian refugees to settle in Sweden till they can move to their state? I don't think so.
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Oct 31, 2014 01:31am
@Sunil Majority of Muslim Countries have not recognised Israel. They support the Palestine cause.
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Oct 31, 2014 03:43am
@alamgiraurakzai Hope occupied Kashmir (the Pakistani side) gets its independence too from the extremists hitting Pakistan from all sides.
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Oct 31, 2014 03:52am
A beautiful country with beautiful qualities. World will welcome your great step to save humanity.
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Oct 31, 2014 04:03am
Did Pakistan recognize Palestine or yet to do ?
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Oct 31, 2014 04:28am
A major victory for Palestine.
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Oct 31, 2014 08:54am
@Indian its only a condemnable act in the eyes of the oppessor, which india is.
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Oct 31, 2014 09:26am
@Third Umpire No Muslim country comes to rescue, when Israel pounds Gaza.
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Oct 31, 2014 10:12am
@Sudhakar and hopefully from Tamil Nadu one day sooner.
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Oct 31, 2014 01:13pm
@Burki Of course , nothing would "matter much" when it comes to Palestine . I do not think even a UN recognition would "matter much" for the likes of you.
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Oct 31, 2014 08:34pm
A positive step in the right direction and hope Kashmir will be the next. The world will see a positive change and peace if the issues of Palestine and Kashmir are solved.
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Nov 02, 2014 11:15am
@shami - Don't expect the UK to move for a long time, they go where the US goes and it ain't going anywhere due to Israel lobby in both countries.
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