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June 4 () –
The Slovenian ultra-conservative opposition has requested the holding of a consultative referendum on the formal recognition of the State of Palestine, which has forced the vote scheduled for this Tuesday in the plenary session of Parliament to be postponed for at least a month, a theoretical final step.
Last week, the Government of Slovenia approved an initiative to advance this recognition, but the approval falls to the legislative branch. On Monday, the Foreign Affairs commission already approved the proposal, a step prior to a debate that will be held this Tuesday in plenary.
However, the Slovenian Democratic Party (SDS) of former Prime Minister Janez Jansa believes that “it is not the right time” to recognize the Palestinian state and agrees with the Israeli Government that any step represents a “reward” for a terrorist organization like Hamas, architect of the worst attack in Israel’s modern history.
The party explained in a statement that Slovenian citizens should have the ability to expressly speak out on this issue, which is why it proposed holding a referendum. The president of Parliament, Urska Klakocar Zupancic, has confirmed that the need to study this idea forces any parliamentary vote to be postponed, according to public television.
Slovenia aspires to follow in the footsteps of Spain, Ireland and Norway, which on May 28 recognized Palestine in a simultaneous initiative that was rebuked by Israel. The Government of Benjamin Netanyahu called the ambassadors in the three European countries for consultations.
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