Sweden officially recognized the Palestinian state on Thursday becoming the first major European country to do so, the Foreign Ministry announced Thursday, according to Agence France-Presse.
Palestinians seek statehood in the Israeli-occupied West Bank and the blockaded Gaza Strip, with East Jerusalem as their capital. They have sought to sidestep stalled peace talks by lobbying foreign powers to recognize their sovereignty claim, Al Arabiya reported.
Swedish Foreign Minister Wallstrom said the country's move aims to support moderate Palestinians in equalizing their status with that of Israel in peace negotiations, as well as giving hope to young people on both sides.