Sweden to Recognize State of Palestine

Sweden's new Prime Minister Stefan Lofven said Friday that his government will recognize the state of Palestine.

"The conflict between Israel and Palestine can only be solved with a two-state solution, negotiated in accordance with international law," Lofven said during his inaugural address in parliament.

"A two-state solution requires mutual recognition and a will to peaceful co-existence. Sweden will therefore recognize the state of Palestine," he said, reports Reuters.

Palestinian Foreign Minister Riad Malki appreciated Lofven's announcement and asked other European Union countries to  follow Sweden.

"In the name of the Palestinian people and the Palestinian leadership, we thank and salute the Swedish position," Malki said in a statement, reports the Associated Press.

Senior Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erakat also praised the decision and  described it as courageous and remarkable. He asked all other European Union countries to follow the path of Sweden since there was no reason not to recognize the state of Palestine, reports Aljazeera.

However, U.S. State Department spokeswoman Jen Psakia said that it was premature to recognize the Palestinian state.

"We believe that the process is one that has to be worked out through the parties to agree on the terms of how they'll live in the future of two states living side-by-side," she said, reports the Associated Press.

Sweden's move to recognize the state of Palestine will make it the first major European country to take the step.  European Union members such as Hungary, Poland and Slovakia recognized the state of Palestine before they joined the EU. Other EU members that have recognized the Palestinian state are Bulgaria, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Malta, and Romania.

Non- EU country Iceland is the only other western European nation which has recognized the state of Palestine.