Irish FM confirms Dublin will recognize Palestinian statehood ‘this month’

Ireland is certain to recognize Palestinian statehood by the end of May, the country’s foreign minister says, without specifying a date.

“We will be recognizing the state of Palestine before the end of the month,” Micheal Martin, who is also Ireland’s deputy prime minister, tells the Newstalk radio station.

In March, the leaders of Spain, Ireland, Slovakia and Malta said in a joint statement that they stand ready to recognize Palestinian statehood.

Last week, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said Spain, Ireland and Slovenia plan to symbolically recognize a Palestinian state on May 21, with others potentially following suit.

But Ireland’s Martin shies from pinpointing a date.

“The specific date is still fluid because we’re still in discussions with some countries in respect of a joint recognition of a Palestinian state,” says Martin. “It will become clear in the next few days as to the specific date but it certainly will be before the end of this month. I will look forward to consultations today with some foreign ministers in respect of the final specific detail of this.”