Greek leftist parties reiterate call for recognition of Palestinian state

On the occasion of the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, two major Greek leftist opposition parties on Friday renewed their demand for the government to officially recognize Palestine as a state.

Rena Dourou, head of foreign affairs for SYRIZA, emphasized the urgency of achieving a fair resolution to the Palestinian issue, describing it as “imperative today more than ever before.”

She stated, “A just resolution of the Palestinian issue is crucial for peace with justice in the Middle East, one of the most militarized regions, including nuclear weapons. This resolution must include the establishment of an independent and viable Palestinian state on the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital, with both states coexisting peacefully.”

Dourou further argued, “The first step toward this goal is the recognition of Palestine as a state by the international community, as several European countries have already done, but Greece has not.”

SYRIZA also called on the government to demonstrate its commitment to international law by supporting the International Criminal Court’s arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Similarly, Dimitris Koutsoumpas, general secretary of the Greek Communist Party (KKE), reaffirmed that “the only solution is the end of Israeli occupation, with the creation of a single independent Palestinian state, with East Jerusalem as its capital, on the 1967 borders.” Koutsoumpas also urged the immediate implementation of the Greek Parliament’s unanimous 2015 decision to recognize an independent Palestinian state.

The International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People was established by the United Nations General Assembly in 1977.