France intends to recognise a Palestinian state at the United Nations General Assembly in September, President Emmanuel Macron has announced.
By doing so, it will become the first G7 country to recognise Palestine, a move that could heap pressure on other major Western powers to do the same.
So far, recognition of Palestinian sovereignty has largely been limited to countries in Africa, South America and Asia that have historically been critical of Israel.
In the UK, Sir Keir Starmer has rejected calls from MPs to immediately recognise a Palestinian state.
Some 221 MPs have signed a letter urging the British government to recognise the state of Palestine at a meeting of the UN next week.
While the prime minister said he was “unequivocal” about wanting to see a Palestinian state, he insisted this needed to be part of a “wider plan which ultimately results in a two-state solution and lasting security for Palestinians and Israelis”.
Mr Macron’s announcement sparked anger in Israel and Washington, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemning the decision.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the United States “strongly rejects” France’s plans, adding: “This reckless decision only serves Hamas propaganda and sets back peace”.
Here, The Independent looks at which countries recognise the state of Palestine.
In 1988, the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO), the official representative of the Palestinian people, formally declared the establishment of the State of Palestine.
In practice, the Palestinians have limited self-government through the Palestinian Authority (PA) in parts of the Israeli-occupied West Bank.
The PA lost control of the Gaza Strip to Hamas in 2007. The UN considers both territories as occupied by Israel and comprising a single political entity. Palestinians also want East Jerusalem to be part of a future state.
Currently, 147 of the 193 member states of the United Nations recognise the state of Palestine.
Palestine has been a non-member observer state of the United Nations General Assembly since November 2012.
