German chancellor: We will not recognize a Palestinian state

Merz stated that Germany will not support the initiative at the United Nations General Assembly next month.

He made these remarks during a joint press conference with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney.

Last month, Carney announced that Canada intends to recognize Palestine at the General Assembly, following similar declarations by France and the United Kingdom.

Merz said: “The position of the federal government, as far as a possible recognition of a Palestinian state is concerned, is clear. Canada knows this. We will not join this initiative. We do not see its requirements as being fulfilled.”

The decision to recognize Palestine as a state is largely symbolic, but comes amid growing international pressure to end what the United Nations has described as a humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

Currently, 147 of the UN’s 193 member states recognize Palestine.

Since November 2012, Palestine has also held the status of a non-member observer state at the UN General Assembly.