Ireland and two other European countries are expected to formally recognise the state of Palestine this morning.
The Coalition leaders will announce Ireland’s intentions at a news conference at Government Buildings shortly after 8am.
Yesterday morning, the Coalition leaders briefed their Cabinet colleagues on the technicalities and practicalities of what that decision actually means.
A Government spokesman said afterwards there was ongoing coordination with several other capitals, and it is now believed two other European countries will recognise Palestinian statehood around the same time – one of them being Spain.
More could follow in the coming days.
However, the Government’s strategy has drawn the ire of Israel.
Its foreign ministry posted a video last night in which it claimed recognising Palestine, outside of an over-arching regional peace deal, will encourage terrorism.
In reply, a Government spokesman in Dublin said Ireland will recognise the state of Palestine in order to keep the two-state peace solution alive.
