The Parliament of Slovenia approved today the decision on the recognition of an independent Palestinian state, Prime Minister Robert Golob said.
"The government has decided today to recognize Palestine as an independent and sovereign state," he said at a press conference in Ljubljana.
The government's decision must be confirmed by the parliament of this European Union member in the following days.
The move is part of a broader effort by states to coordinate pressure on Israel to end the conflict in Gaza.
Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz condemned the Slovenian government's decision and said it rewarded Hamas for killings and rapes, referring to the Palestinian Islamist group's October 7 attack on Israel that sparked the Gaza war.
Katz said that the move harms the "close friendship between the Slovenian and Israeli people" and that he hopes the Slovenian parliament will "reject the recommendation".
Spain, Ireland and Norway officially recognized the Palestinian state on May 28, prompting an angry reaction from Israel.
Golob also called for an end to hostilities between Israel and Hamas in Gaza and for the release of all hostages.
"This is a message of peace," he said.
The Slovenian government raised the Palestinian flag together with the flags of Slovenia and the EU in front of its building in the center of Ljubljana.
Of the 27 EU members, Sweden, Cyprus, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Poland, Slovakia, Romania and Bulgaria have already recognized a Palestinian state. Malta has said it may soon follow suit.
Britain and Australia have also said they are considering recognition, but France has said now is not the time.
Germany, like the US, has rejected a unilateral approach, insisting that a two-state solution can only be reached through dialogue.
On Tuesday, the Danish parliament rejected a proposal to recognize a Palestinian state.
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