Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has said that recognising the State of Palestine before it is established could be counterproductive, Al Jazeera reports.

“I am very much in favour of the State of Palestine but I am not in favour of recognising it prior to establishing it,” Meloni told Italian daily La Repubblica.

“If something that doesn’t exist is recognised on paper, the problem could appear to be solved when it isn’t,” Meloni added.

Yesterday, Italy’s foreign minister said that recognition of a Palestinian state must occur simultaneously with recognition of Israel by the new Palestinian entity.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni looks on ahead of a meeting with Austrian Chancellor Christian Stocker in Rome, Italy, on July 15, 2025. — Reuters/File
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni looks on ahead of a meeting with Austrian Chancellor Christian Stocker in Rome, Italy, on July 15, 2025. — Reuters/File

Opinion

Editorial

Khamenei’s killing
Updated 02 Mar, 2026

Khamenei’s killing

THERE is no question about it: with the brutal assassination of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and...
NFC reform
02 Mar, 2026

NFC reform

PLANNING Minister Ahsan Iqbal’s call for forward-looking reforms in the NFC Award has reopened an important debate...
Migrant crisis
02 Mar, 2026

Migrant crisis

MIGRANT casualties represent the lifelong pain of families left behind. Yet countries do little to preserve ...
A new war
Updated 01 Mar, 2026

A new war

UNLESS there is an immediate diplomatic breakthrough, the joint Israeli-American aggression against Iran launched on...
Breaking the cycle
01 Mar, 2026

Breaking the cycle

THE confrontation between Pakistan and Afghanistan has taken a dangerous turn. Attacks, retaliatory strikes and the...
Anonymous collections
01 Mar, 2026

Anonymous collections

THE widespread emergence of ‘nameless donation boxes’ soliciting charity in cities and towns across Punjab...