Italian PM: Acknowledging Palestinian Countries Before Establishing May Be Contradictive

JAKARTA - Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni emphasized that giving recognition to the Palestinian State before the country was established could be counterproductive.

"I strongly support the Palestinian State, but I do not support the recognition before its formation," Meloni told the Italian daily La Repubblica.

"If something that is not recognized on paper, the problem can appear to be solved when it really doesn't," continued Meloni.

France's decision to recognize the Palestinian state at the United Nations General Assembly (UN) in September drew criticism from Israel and the United States, amid a war in Gaza between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas.

On Friday, Italy's foreign minister said the recognition of the Palestinian state should coincide with Israel's recognition by a new Palestinian entity.

A German government spokesman said Berlin had no plans to recognize the Palestinian state in the short term. Germany says its priority now is to make progress towards two country solutions.