“I Support a Palestinian State, But Recognizing It Before Its Actual Establishment Could Be Counterproductive” – Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni

“I Support a Palestinian State, But Recognizing It Before Its Actual Establishment Could Be Counterproductive” – Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni

[Milan, July 26, 2025] —
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has taken a cautious stance on the question of recognizing a Palestinian state. In an interview published Saturday by Italy’s prominent daily La Repubblica, Meloni stated that while she supports the idea of a Palestinian state, she considers granting recognition before its actual establishment to be “counterproductive.”

Meloni said:
“I support a Palestinian state, but I am not in favor of recognizing something that has not yet been established.”

She further warned:
“If something that doesn’t yet exist is formally recognized on paper, it could create the false impression that the problem has been solved, when in reality it hasn’t.”

Her comments come at a time when France has announced that it will formally recognize Palestine as an independent state during the UN General Assembly in September. This declaration has drawn sharp criticism from both Israel and the United States, especially in the context of the ongoing Israel-Hamas war in Gaza, with critics calling the decision “unwelcome and misleading.”

On Friday, Italy’s Foreign Minister echoed Meloni’s position, saying that recognition of a Palestinian state should only happen once the new Palestinian entity also recognizes Israel.

Meanwhile, a German government spokesperson said on the same day that Berlin has no immediate plans to recognize Palestine as a state. He added:
“Our main priority is to ensure real and sustainable progress toward a long-stalled two-state solution.”

This situation highlights a growing division within Europe, where some nations are moving swiftly toward recognition, while others are waiting for concrete realities on the ground in order to maintain diplomatic balance.