The government argues that immediate recognition of Palestine would be immaterial and insists on mediation.

The Parliamentary Affairs Minister said this Friday that the government has “great faith” in its mediation role in the face of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, which he said is “bearing fruit”, and stressed that immediate recognition of Palestine “would be relatively unimportant.”

“We believe a lot in the mediation work that we do. This may not be the easiest way, the simplest would be official recognition, which would be done immediately, but would probably be relatively insignificant,” said Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pedro Duarte. , in the current debate in the Assembly of the Republic planned by Livre, entitled “Recognition of the State of Palestine”.

Pedro Duarte stressed that the Portuguese government is trying in every way “to be more useful and more effective than perhaps through simple recognition.”

The parliamentary affairs minister insisted on a position already taken in parliament this week by Foreign Minister Paulo Rangel, saying Portugal was “fighting for a two-state solution.”

“When we are asked why Portugal has not yet achieved this official recognition, the answer, although not simple, is clear, because there are two ways to try to contribute to ending this cycle of violence: through the recognition of Palestine, as they have already done with several states – members of the UN, unfortunately, knowing that this recognition does not mean a ceasefire. Or defend a broad and balanced debate that allows us to maintain consensus on how to move toward Palestinian recognition while putting every effort into demanding diplomatic action. “, he emphasized.

According to the official, this executive action “is bearing fruit,” emphasizing that the position taken by Portugal “is appreciated by the Palestinian Authority itself.”

Pedro Duarte recalled that the government, “which took the unilateral measure of not allowing arms exports to Israel, maintains bridges with the Israeli government and is committed to bringing into the Palestinian cause the countries of the European Union that have been reluctant to the Palestinian cause.” the right to the existence of Palestine.”

Regarding Livre, MP Rui Tavares insisted on immediate recognition of Palestine, but asked the executive to at least issue “guidelines for Palestinian independence” so that Portugal would be ready to do so when the government made a decision.

“This is the moment for Portugal to live up to its history and pursue a courageous, not a cowardly, foreign policy,” he said.

Rui Tavares, whose first speech was interrupted by several insults from Chegi MPs, believes this is “a way of saying no to Hamas extremism and no to Netanyahu extremism at the same time.” [primeiro-ministro de Israel] and some ministers in the government, the international community must declare once and for all that there is no way to prevent Palestinian independence.”

At the beginning of the debate, the Livre deputy exchanged accusations with the liberal Rodrigo Saraiva, who asked Rui Tavares if he agreed with the expression “from the river (Jordao) to the sea” used as a “slogan” in defense of the Palestinian issue, which he said had emerged free-to-air for legislatures and which in practice prevents a two-state solution.

Regarding the CDS-PP, parliamentary leader Paulo Nuncio asked Tavares whether he condemns extremist attacks in all their forms, “or only when they are directed against the Palestinian people.”

In response, Tavares began by saying that Livre was the first party to make a political statement in parliament condemning the Hamas attack on Israel, and that it took the same position when a synagogue in Porto was vandalized last October.

Tavares accused the Liberal Initiative of “sloppy politics” and stressed that Livre, since its founding, “has been in favor of a two-state solution, which means that ‘from the river to the sea’ everyone should be free according to their national identity.” .