Sweden to Recognize Palestine

Just a month after elections tossed out the center-right government, Sweden’s new liberal government is already making waves. Newly minted Prime Minister Stefan Lofven said in his inaugural address Friday that Sweden will recognize Palestine as a state, making the country the first long-term member of the EU to do so. “The conflict between Israel and Palestine can only be solved with a two-state solution," he said. “A two-state solution requires mutual recognition and a will to peaceful co-existence. Sweden will therefore recognize the state of Palestine." EU countries such as Hungary, Poland, and Slovakia recognized Palestine before joining the EU.