Palestinian State Recognised By United Kingdom, Canada, Portugal and Australia

Posted 22 Sep 2025

2 min read

Article Summary

Four Western countries joined 140+ UN members in recognizing Palestine, enabling it to engage in diplomatic relations & treaties; India acknowledged in 1988; Palestine remains a UN Observer State.

The four western nations joined over 140 UN member states in recognizing Palestine as a state.

India recognized the Palestinian State in 1988.
- Recently, India voted in favour of a resolution in the UN General Assembly endorsing the ‘New York Declaration’ on the peaceful settlement and implementation of the Two-State Solution.

Recognition of States

The process in which a state acknowledges another entity as a state is known as recognition.
Article 1 of the 1933 Montevideo Convention on the Rights and Duties of States defines the criteria for statehood: Permanent population, definite territory, government and capacity to enter into relations with other states.
Effects of State Recognition
- It acquires the capacity to enter into diplomatic relations with other states.
- It acquires the capacity to enter into treaties with other states.
- The state is able to enjoy the rights and privileges of international statehood.
- The state can become a member of the United Nations organisation.
  - Palestine is a UN “Permanent Observer State,” not a full member.

Recognition by United Nations

The recognition of a new State or Government is an act that only other States and Governments may grant or withhold.
- The United Nations is neither a State nor a Government, and therefore does not possess any authority to recognize either a State or a Government.
The UN may admit a new State to its membership or accept the credentials of the representatives of a new Government.