European nations recognize Palestine at UN, deepening rift with Washington

* France, Luxembourg, Belgium, Malta and Monaco announced recognition during Monday's high-level UN meeting on the peaceful settlement of the Palestinian question.

* The recognitions by European countries underscore a widening gap with Washington.

* As the only permanent UN Security Council member that does not recognize Palestine, the United States now finds itself at odds with its G7 allies on both timing and approach.

BRUSSELS, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- A group of European governments recognized the State of Palestine on Monday at the 80th session of the United Nations (UN) General Assembly, marking a growing diplomatic shift in Europe and a widening policy gap with the United States.

European officials said the moves are largely symbolic for now, but vital to keeping the two-state vision alive as the Palestinian-Israeli conflict has dragged on for nearly two years.

Washington, which boycotted the session and continues to back Israel, remains opposed to recognition at this stage and denied visas to Palestinian delegates, barring them from the UN meeting in New York.

RECOGNITION GATHERS MOMENTUM

France, Luxembourg, Belgium, Malta and Monaco announced recognition during Monday's high-level UN meeting on the peaceful settlement of the Palestinian question.

French President Emmanuel Macron said Paris would recognize Palestine, fulfilling a commitment he had signalled in recent months.

"The time for peace has come," he said. "We must do everything within our power to preserve the very possibility of a two-state solution."

Prime Minister of Luxembourg Luc Frieden said that the formal recognition is "the beginning of a renewed commitment to hope. A commitment to diplomacy, to dialogue, to coexistence and a two-state solution."

"To the idea -- fragile, but still possible -- that peace can prevail," Frieden added.

Their announcements followed Canada's on Sunday, with Britain, Australia and Portugal joining later that day.

Earlier Sunday, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney issued a statement, saying, "Canada recognizes the State of Palestine and offers our partnership in building the promise of a peaceful future for both the State of Palestine and the State of Israel."

"The current Israeli government is working methodically to prevent the prospect of a Palestinian state from ever being established," Carney said. "It has pursued an unrelenting policy of settlement expansion in the West Bank, which is illegal under international law."

An hour later, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced that his country "formally recognizes the State of Palestine" to "revive the hope of peace and a two-state solution."

"The man-made humanitarian crisis in Gaza reaches new depths," Starmer said. "The Israeli government's relentless and increasing bombardment of Gaza, the offensive of recent weeks, the starvation, and devastation are utterly intolerable."

"This death and destruction horrifies all of us. It must end," he noted.

DIVISIONS WITHIN EUROPE

The push to recognize Palestine has also revealed longstanding divisions within Europe.

Though it reaffirmed support for a two-state solution, Germany has not yet recognized Palestine.

"For Germany, the recognition of a Palestinian state is more likely to be at the end of the process. But such a process must begin now," Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said.

Germany, along with Hungary and Italy, has also hindered the European Commission's proposed sanctions on certain Israeli ministers, settlers and related entities, which require a qualified majority to take effect.

Meanwhile, in response to Israel's operations in Gaza, Spain this month approved measures, including restrictions on arms transfers, transport and products linked to settlements deemed illegal under international law.

Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen said Copenhagen had too long treated recognition as the outcome of a two-state process, and it now sees statehood as a starting point for negotiations.

The British government stressed that further action is needed. "Recognition is not enough on its own," said a statement from its foreign ministry, adding that consensus with European and other world leaders is necessary for steps that can achieve a ceasefire and a permanent end to the conflict.

At the same time, the Palestinians are calling for the symbolic move by the Western nations to be translated into practical measures.

"It is perfect. Even if it is very late coming, it means they have recognized the rights of the Palestinian people," The Guardian quoted Abu Said, a barber in the occupied West Bank, as saying. "It is not enough to recognize in itself. We need actions and implementation," he added.

TRANSATLANTIC RIFT WIDENS

The recognitions by European countries underscore a widening gap with Washington.

As the only permanent UN Security Council member that does not recognize Palestine, the United States now finds itself at odds with its G7 allies on both timing and approach.

On Sept. 12, the United States and Israel voted against the New York Declaration, which outlined "tangible, time-bound, and irreversible steps" towards a two-state solution, while 142 countries overwhelmingly endorsed it.

Ahead of the UN meeting in New York, the United States attempted to block Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas from attending the session by denying him a visa. However, 145 countries later voted to allow him to address the session online.

European Council President Antonio Costa expressed his support for the two-state solution at Monday's meeting.

"There is only one way forward: the two-state solution," he said. "A secure and recognized State of Israel. An independent, democratic, viable State of Palestine. Living side by side."

Rui Lourido, a Portuguese historian and senior researcher at the Lisbon City Council, said: "The wave of Palestinian recognition reflects a deepening rift between Europe and the United States."

"Several European countries are no longer willing to follow the U.S. line unconditionally, instead acting collectively to use recognition of Palestine as a form of pressure on both Israel and the United States," he said.

France's former Ambassador to the Mediterranean Karim Amellal said: "We are seeing alliances shifting. There's Israel and the United States against most European nations, including Germany."

The dynamic now is going to "accentuate the isolation" of Israel and the United States, he noted.

(Video reporters: Xie E; video editors: Yang Zeyi, Zhao Xiaoqing)■