The foreign relations of Palestine have been conducted since the establishment of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) in 1964. Since the Oslo Accords, it seeks to obtain universal recognition for the State of Palestine on the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital. of the United Nations (UN) member states officially recognize the State of Palestine (Israel is recognized by 159 excluding Israel itself).
In November 1988, the Palestinian National Council declared the independence of the State of Palestine, and in 1994, the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) was established following the Oslo Accords. The PLO Executive Committee performs the functions of the government of the State of Palestine.
After 2011, the PLO's diplomatic effort focused on the Palestine 194 campaign, which aims to gain membership for the State of Palestine in the United Nations. In November 2012, the State of Palestine was accepted as a non-member observer state of the UN General Assembly with the passing of United Nations General Assembly resolution 67/19.United Nations A/67/L.28 General Assembly . 26 November 2012.
Background The Palestine Liberation Organization was created in 1964 as a paramilitary organization and has sought to conduct foreign relations with states and international organisations since that time. "... foreign policy formation of non-state actors as well as states. ... Since its inception in 1964, the PLO as a non-state actor has exercised a number of roles that approximate those utilized by nation-states." Initially, the PLO established relations with Arab and communist countries. In 1969 the PLO became a member of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation.The State of Palestine succeeded the seat of the Palestine Liberation Organization following the 1988 Palestinian Declaration of Independence. In October 1974, the Arab League designated the PLO as the "sole legitimate representative of the Palestinian people". The new status of the PLO was recognised by all Arab League states except Jordan (Jordan recognised that status of the PLO at a later stage). On 22 November 1974, United Nations General Assembly Resolution 3236 recognised the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination, national independence, and sovereignty in Palestine. It also recognised the PLO as the representative of the Palestinian people to the United Nations. By Resolution 3237 on the same date, the PLO was granted non-State observer status at the United Nations. In September 1976, the PLO became a non-state member of the Arab League, and in the same year became a member of the Non-Aligned Movement.
On 15 November 1988, in support of the First Intifada, the PLO declared the establishment of the State of Palestine, which was widely recognized by many foreign governments,Tessler, Mark A. (1994). A History of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict (2nd, illustrated ed.). Indiana University Press, p. 722: "Within two weeks of the PNC meeting, at least fifty-five nations, including states as diverse as the Soviet Union, China, India, Greece, Yugoslavia, Sri Lanka, Malta, and Zambia, had recognized the Palestinian state." although often statements made were of an equivocal nature "...Declaration was quite widely recognized by states, although often in equivocal terms" – at times referring to the PLO or the State of Palestine or one acting on behalf of the other, or by the generic "Palestine". Many countries and organisations "upgraded" representation from the PLO to the new State, though in practice the same PLO offices, personnel and contacts continued to be used. In February 1989 at the United Nations Security Council, the PLO representative claimed recognition from 94 states. Since then, additional states have publicly extended recognition.
The PNA was established by the PLO in 1994 following the Oslo Accords and the Israeli-Palestinian Interim Agreement. The Israeli government transferred certain powers and responsibilities of self-government to the PNA, which are in effect in parts of the West Bank, and used to be effective in the Gaza Strip before its takeover by Hamas. The Foreign Affairs Minister of the Palestinian National Authority, who since July 2007 has been Riyad Al-Maliki, is responsible for the foreign relations of the PNA. States maintain official relations with the PNA through offices in the Palestinian territories, and the representation of the PNA abroad is accomplished by the missions of the PLO, who represents it there.
Both the PLO (representing itself, the State of Palestine, or the PNA) and the PNA now maintain an extensive network of diplomatic relations, and participate in multiple international organisations with status of member state, observer, associate, or affiliate. The designation "Palestine", adopted in 1988 by the UN for the PLO, is currently also used as reference to the PNA and the State of Palestine by states and international organisations, in many cases regardless of the level of recognition and relations they have with any of these entities.
Diplomatic relations List of countries which maintain diplomatic relations with the State of Palestine by date: #CountryDate12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031323334353637383940414243444546474849505152535455565758596061626364656667686970717273 Relations established 25 April 1992.7475767778798081828384858687888990919293949596979899100101102103104105106107108109110111112113—114115116117118119120121122123124125126127128129130131132133134135Unknown136Unknown137Unknown138Unknown139Unknown140Unknown
Bilateral relations
The Palestine Liberation Organization maintains a network of missions and embassies, and represents the Palestinian National Authority abroad.: "The PLO, which has been recognized to possess an independent international personality as representative of the Palestinian people, has been delegated the power to act on behalf of the PA in the international arena with regard to specific substantive areas." Most of the have elevated the Palestinian representation in their country to the status of embassy.Talmon, 1998, p. 158, footnote #236: "It is of interest to note that most States that have recognized the 'State of Palestine' after its proclamation on 15 Nov. 1988 have elevated the PLO office in their country to the status of embassy." A number of other states have granted some form of diplomatic status to a PLO delegation, falling short of full diplomatic recognition. In some cases, as a matter of courtesy, these delegations and missions have been granted diplomatic privileges, and are often referred to as "embassies" with their heads as "ambassadors". "The Irish government has upgraded the status of the General Delegation of Palestine in Ireland to the Mission of Palestine, headed by an Ambassador."
In the United States, an unofficial PLO information office was established in New York in 1964 and run by Sadat Hassan, who served as Permanent Representative of Yemen to the United Nations. The Palestine Information Office was then registered with the Justice Department as a foreign agent and operated until 1968, when it was closed. The PLO was designated a terrorist organization by the United States in 1987,U.S. Code – Title 22 – Chapter 61 – § 5201. Findings; determinations, Legal Information Institute, Cornell Law School. Retrieved 5 December 2006.22 USC Chapter 61 – Anti-Terrorism – PLO , Office of the Law Revision Counsel (United States). Retrieved 5 December 2006. but in 1988 a presidential waiver was issued which permitted contact with the organization. A PLO office was reopened in 1989 as the Palestine Affairs Center.The Palestinian Diaspora: Formation of Identities and Politics of Homeland, By Helena Lindholm Schulz, Juliane Hammer, Routledge, 2003 p. 81 The PLO Mission office, in Washington, D.C., was opened in 1994, and represented the PLO in the United States. On 20 July 2010, the United States Department of State agreed to upgrade the status of the PLO Mission in the United States to "General Delegation of the PLO".
Participation in international organisations The State of Palestine is represented in various international organisations as member, associate or observer.
International Organisation Status Representation Application date Admission date MembershipOrganisation of Islamic Cooperation memberState of Palestine1969 INTERPOLState of Palestine2017ICCState of Palestine2015Non-Aligned Movementmember Palestine 1976 : "Palestine NAM membership 15 Aug 1976."Arab League memberState of Palestine1976 United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asiamember Palestine Liberation Organization (as in the UNGA)1977Euro-Mediterranean Parliamentary Assemblymember Palestinian National Council (PLO)2003International Coordinating Committee of National Human Rights Institutions member Palestinian Independent Commission for Human Rights (PNA)2004 International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and International Red Cross and Red Crescent MovementmemberPalestine Red Crescent Society (PLO): "PLO also contains the ...; Palestinian Red Crescent Soc (established Jord 65, part of PLO from 1969)".2006 Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterraneanmember Palestinian National Council (PLO)2006 Union for the MediterraneanmemberPalestinian National Authority2008Inter-Parliamentary Unionmember Palestinian National Council (PLO)1995: "communication from the Speaker of the Palestine National Council to the 93rd Conference (April 1995) concerning the situation of Palestine in the IPU".2008 Asian Parliamentary Assemblymember Palestinian Legislative Council (PNA)Group of 77member Palestine International Trade Union Confederationmember Palestine General Federation of Trade UnionsAirports Council Internationalmember :"Palestinian Civil Aviation Authority, Yasser Arafat International Airport ..., Gaza, Palestinian Authority".Palestinian Civil Aviation Authority (PNA)Alliance for Financial Inclusionmember Palestinian Monetary Authority (PNA) 2010UNESCOmemberState of Palestine1989 The list contains 92 entries, including a number of states which no longer exist.2011 IBANmember Palestinian Monetary Authority (PNA)http://www.wafainfo.ps/atemplate.aspx?id=2617 2012 Non-member statusUnited Nations observer state State of Palestine1974 World Health Organizationobserver Palestine Liberation Organization (as in the UNGA)1998International Telecommunication Unionobserver Palestine Liberation Organization (as in the UNGA) 1998 World Tourism Organizationspecial observer Palestine Liberation Organization (as in the UNGA)1999International Organization for Standardizationcorrespondent Palestine Standards Institution (PNA)2001 World Intellectual Property Organizationobserver Palestine Liberation Organization (as in the UNGA)20052005 Universal Postal Unionspecial observerPalestinian National Authority2008Energy Charter Conferenceobserver :"The Palestinian National Authority became an Observer on 28 November 2008".Palestinian National Authority2008International Electrotechnical Commissionaffiliate participant Palestine Standards Institution (PNA) 2009Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europepartner for democracyPalestinian National Council (PLO) 2010 2011 Association of Caribbean States (ACS)observer2017
Arab League