The Israeli-Palestinian conflict has deeply divided the European Union, with Borrell’s native Spain leading the latest move in support of Palestinian statehood last week, but Germany and France are among the majority of EU countries refraining from such steps.
Around two-thirds of the EU’s 27 member states are not yet ready.
The United States, under pressure from Spain, Ireland and Norway, has criticised the so-called “unilateral recognition”, but Mustafa said it was time for more European countries to take inspiration from the three European governments.
“We are confident that many like-minded European countries will follow suit and formally recognize the State of Palestine in the near future,” Mustafa said, speaking alongside his Spanish counterpart, José Manuel Álvarez, at a joint press conference at the European Union’s Permanent Representation in Brussels.
Mustafa also vowed to focus on a clear plan to improve the Palestinian Authority’s institutions to better equip it to govern Gaza. “We are going to undertake a very intensive reform program,” Mustafa said. “We are on the right path to move forward very well.”
Meanwhile, Alvarez said he called on EU member states to uphold “international law” and the International Court of Justice’s ruling last week that Israel must halt its military operations in the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah.
Paula Andres Richart contributed to this report.
