On Tuesday, the Danish Parliament declined a bid to recognise Palestine as a state, siding with the government’s stance that the necessary prerequisites were absent. The vote occurred despite recognitions of Palestinian sovereignty by Ireland, Spain and Norway. The legislation was put forth by four left-wing parties in Denmark.
Sascha Faxe, a parliamentary representative for The Alternative, insisted that acknowledging Palestine as a state was the sole means to secure enduring peace in the Middle East. She asserted that a significant proportion of Danish politicians are in consensus that a permanent peace in this region is contingent upon a two-state solution, advocating that such recognition would bestow ordinary Palestinians with their deserved rights.
In the past, Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen expressed that the Danish government was unable to acknowledge Palestine due to the absence of a cohesive governing body and control over their territory. Rasmussen did not participate in the Tuesday debate but expressed a future hope of Denmark being able to back a Palestinian state.
In related news, the University of Copenhagen, as a response to student protests, has announced the cease of investment in businesses operating in the occupied West Bank. Starting from May 29th, the university will discontinue its investments amounting to approximately 1 million Danish crowns (€135,000) in Airbnb, Booking.com and eDreams as stated in a social media post. The institution intends to coordinate with fund managers to ensure that its investments comply with a United Nation’s roster of companies involved in illegal West Bank settlements.
Meanwhile, in France, the President of the National Assembly, Yaël Braun-Pivet, interrupted Tuesday’s afternoon session when a Member of Parliament from Les Insoumis (LFI), Sébastien Delogu, displayed a Palestinian flag to spotlight the crisis in Gaza. The LFI party later reaffirmed its commitment to peace in a social media post featuring the incident’s video. The occurrence coincided with Deputy Trade Minister Franck Riester’s addressing a question concerning the situation in Gaza, wherein Israel’s aggression against Hamas militants has provoked international reproach for its impact on civilians.
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