Slovenia's Opposition Party Proposes Referendum on Recognizing Palestine, Delaying Parliamentary Vote

The Slovenian Democratic Party (SDS), the main opposition party in Slovenia, has filed a motion for a consultative referendum on whether Slovenia should recognize Palestine as a sovereign state. This move, initiated on June 3, is expected to delay the final parliamentary vote on Palestine recognition, which was initially scheduled for Tuesday.

The Slovenian government had endorsed a motion to recognize Palestine last week and sent the proposal to parliament for final approval. The ruling coalition, which supports the recognition, argues that it would contribute to peace efforts in the Gaza Strip and pressure Israeli authorities to negotiate.

Why this matters: The recognition of Palestine as a sovereign state has significant implications for global politics and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. A Slovenian referendum on the issue could influence other European countries' stances on Palestinian statehood and impact the region's stability.

The SDS, led by former Prime Minister Janez Jansa, argues that citizens should have a say in this important issue, which could have serious consequences for Slovenia. Jansa claims that the government's move "gives support to the terrorist organization Hamas."

The proposal for a consultative referendum will delay the parliamentary vote by about 30 days. The Slovenian parliament will now have to decide on the SDS proposal at its next regular session, scheduled for June 17. If the proposal is rejected, the debate on the recognition decree may not resume until the next session, scheduled for July 8.

This move comes after Spain, Ireland, and Norway recognized Palestine as a state last month. According to Palestinian authorities, 145 out of 193 United Nations member states have recognized Palestinian statehood.

The Gaza war, sparked by Hamas's attack on Israel, has resulted in the deaths of 1,189 people, mostly civilians. Israel's retaliatory offensive has killed at least 36,479 people in Gaza, also mostly civilians.

Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz has expressed hope that Slovenian lawmakers would reject recognizing a Palestinian state, stating that a yes vote would be a "reward" to Hamas.

The Slovenian government, comprising three center-left parties, holds a comfortable majority in the 90-member assembly. Lawmakers must approve the recognition of the Palestinian state for the decision to take effect.

As Slovenia addresses this complex issue, the proposed referendum will provide insight into public opinion on the matter, potentially shaping the country's foreign policy stance on Palestine.

Key Takeaways

• Slovenia's opposition party files motion for referendum on recognizing Palestine as a sovereign state.
• Government had endorsed recognition, citing contribution to peace efforts in Gaza Strip.
• Recognition has significant implications for global politics and Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
• 145 out of 193 UN member states have recognized Palestinian statehood.
• Proposed referendum will delay parliamentary vote and provide insight into public opinion.