The European Union will not recognize Palestinian statehood until an “appropriate” time, its Foreign Affairs Council said in a statement.

The 27 EU foreign ministers meeting Monday in Brussels issued the statement in response to a letter from Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat to EU foreign policy head Catherine Ashton asking the body to join those countries that already have recognized a unilaterally declared Palestinian state.

Argentina and Brazil announced their support last week of a unilateral declaration of a Palestinian state.

Forwarding the News

Thoughtful, balanced reporting from the Forward and around the web, bringing you updated news and analysis each day.

Terms(Required)

I agree to the Forward's Terms of Service and Privacy Policy

Email(Required)

“The EU commends the work of the Palestinian Authority in building the institutions of the future State of Palestine and reiterates its full support for their endeavors in this regard and the (Palestine Prime Minister Salam) Fayyad plan,” read the EU Foreign Affairs Council’s statement.

“[The council] reiterates its readiness, when appropriate, to recognize a Palestinian state,” it added, saying that “urgent progress is needed towards a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.”

The statement said the ministers were disappointed that Israel did not extend its settlement freeze and reiterated that “Our views on settlements, including in East Jerusalem, are clear: they are illegal under international law and an obstacle to peace.”

The Forward is free to read, but it isn’t free to produce

I hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, I’d like to ask you to please support the Forward.

Now more than ever, American Jews need independent news they can trust, with reporting driven by truth, not ideology. We serve you, not any ideological agenda.

At a time when other newsrooms are closing or cutting back, the Forward has removed its paywall and invested additional resources to report on the ground from Israel and around the U.S. on the impact of the war, rising antisemitism and polarized discourse.

Readers like you make it all possible. Support our work by becoming a Forward Member and connect with our journalism and your community.

This is a great time to support independent Jewish journalism you rely on. Make a gift today!

—  Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Publisher and CEO

Support our mission to tell the Jewish story fully and fairly.

$90 $180

$360

Other amount