“New Zealand has been clear for some time that our recognition of a Palestinian state is a matter of when, not if,” Peters said.
New Zealand will make a formal decision next month on whether to recognise a Palestinian state, Foreign Minister Winston Peters announced on Monday, citing the worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza and international divisions on the issue.
Peters told reporters he had presented an oral item to Cabinet ahead of September’s deliberations. “The humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza is rightly at the forefront of the global agenda,” he said. “New Zealand, as a long-standing supporter of the two-state solution and Palestinian self-determination, is an active participant in discussions about how to broker a ceasefire and a political settlement.”
While some of New Zealand’s close partners have recognised a Palestinian state and others have not, Peters emphasised the country’s independent foreign policy. “Ultimately, we intend to weigh up the issue carefully and then act according to New Zealand’s principles, values and national interest,” he said.
Peters stressed that recognition is inevitable but contingent on progress toward a viable and legitimate Palestinian state, including security, political and economic benchmarks. “We will be taking heed of the facts on the ground deteriorating rapidly, our close partners being divided, and a range of Arab states making clear Hamas must disarm,” he said.
Cabinet is expected to decide in September, ahead of Peters’ trip to New York for the United Nations Leaders’ Week, where he will present New Zealand’s position.