The recent recognition of the State of Palestine by the United Kingdom, Canada, and other European countries marks a clear shift within the international community. It is not a mere diplomatic gesture, but a decision of historical weight and strong moral import. Greece cannot remain on the sidelines of this development.
Recognizing Palestine is not an act against Israel. On the contrary, it is an act in favor of reason, law, and peace.
Israel has an absolute and indisputable right to exist and to its security. In recent years, Greece has built a strategic relationship with Israel, founded on trust, cooperation in energy and innovation, and the stability of the Eastern Mediterranean. This relationship is valuable and must be safeguarded.
However, it is essential to distinguish between the State of Israel and the policies of the Netanyahu government.
The ongoing war in Gaza undermines peace and has provoked global outcry. At the outset, justice was on Israel’s side, as it suffered Hamas’s terrorist attack. Today, however—with thousands of civilians dead and a massive humanitarian crisis—Israel is losing the moral high ground. Within Israel, figures from intellectual and political life openly denounce Netanyahu’s policy, warning that it harms the country’s own future.
In this context, Greece must be consistent. It cannot demand respect for international law in the case of Cyprus, for our borders, and for the law of the sea, yet remain silent when it comes to the rights of the Palestinians. Consistency is the foundation of our credibility.
It is worth recalling that the Republic of Cyprus officially recognized the State of Palestine on November 18, 1988—just one day after its proclamation by the Palestinian National Council in Algiers. Cyprus was among the first countries in the world to take that step, and it has since remained firmly in favor of a two-state solution based on UN resolutions. Thirty-six years later, Greece cannot continue to remain silent.
Recognizing Palestine is not merely a moral act; it is a strategic choice. It strengthens Greece’s international role, especially in the Mediterranean and the Middle East, where our country can serve as a bridge and a force for dialogue. Aligning with the countries that have already recognized Palestine will show that Greece rises to the height of its history and values.
The dilemma, therefore, is not whether Greece chooses Israel or Palestine. Greece must choose reason, law, and peace. By affirming both Israel’s right to security and existence and the Palestinians’ right to an independent state, our country will demonstrate that it remains faithful to the principles that guide it.
The two-state solution remains the only realistic prospect for peace in the Middle East.
Recognition of the State of Palestine by Greece would be an act of responsibility, consistency, and political courage. It would send the message that, in a world full of instability and uncertainty, there are still countries that choose to defend the values that bring stability: reason, law, and peace.