Member of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) Executive Committee Azzam al-Ahmad said that eight European states have expressed willingness to recognize a Palestinian state on the lines prevailing before the 1967 war in response to Israel's annexation plan.
The European Union rejects Israel’s plan to annex parts of the West Bank and the Jordan Valley and has threatened to impose sanctions on Israel in case it goes ahead with the annexation, Ahmad added.
Palestinian officials told the Israeli Kan public broadcaster that several European countries, including Ireland, intend to recognize the Palestinian state if Israel goes ahead with its plan.
The officials say France, Spain, Belgium, Luxembourg, and Portugal have yet to respond.
A committee in the House of Representatives of the Belgian Parliament passed a draft-law calling on the government to recognize a Palestinian state. It will be debated by the parliament in the coming 15 days.
Ahmad also said that Palestine "plans to hold a series of meetings in the United Nations to exert pressure on Israel to withdraw its annexation" plan.
He stressed that Riyadh remains a backer of the Palestinian people and leaders, lauding the Saudi government for its constant stance from the Palestinian cause as well as the meeting outcomes of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation.
Following a meeting, Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh has urged German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas to increase pressure on Israel to stop its destructive plan.
The talks, via videoconference, were attended by Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi.
Shtayyeh said: “We have affirmed our position of categorically rejecting annexation as an existential threat to the Palestinian entity and the Palestinian state, a violation of international law and agreements and a threat to regional security."
He added: "We have asked Germany, which will chair the Security Council and the European Union, to convey this message to the world and increase its pressure on Israel on behalf of the European Union to back down from the annexation plan. It is very clear that if there is no serious cost for the annexation to Israel, it will not back down from its plan."
Maas restated his country’s opposition to unilateral Israeli annexation. Safadi warned it was “imperative to stop annexation because ultimately it is a path to institutionalize apartheid of Palestine and that is not a recipe for peace.”
