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© Tt News Agency/ReutersThe new Swedish prime minister, Stefan Löfven (centre), presents his new government in Stockholm.
Sweden's new centre-left government is to recognise the state of Palestine, in a move that will make it the first major European country to take the step, the prime minister, Stefan Löfven, has said. The UN general assembly approved the de facto recognition of the sovereign state of Palestine in 2012, but the European Union and most EU countries have yet to give it official recognition.

"The conflict between Israel and Palestine can only be solved with a two-state solution, negotiated in accordance with international law," Löfven said during his inaugural address in parliament on Friday. "A two-state solution requires mutual recognition and a will to peaceful coexistence. Sweden will therefore recognise the state of Palestine."

For the Palestinians, Sweden's move will be a welcome boost for its ambitions. With its reputation as an honest broker in international affairs and with an influential voice in EU foreign policy, the decision may well make other countries sit up and pay attention at a time when the Palestinians are threatening unilateral moves towards statehood.

There is, however, likely to be strong criticism from Israel, and the US and EU, which maintain that an independent Palestinian state should only emerge through a negotiated process. Some EU countries, such as Hungary, Poland and Slovakia, recognise Palestine, but they did so before joining the 28-member bloc.

Löfven leads the Social Democrats who, with the Greens, hold a minority of seats in parliament, and the incoming centre-left government is likely to be one of Sweden's weakest for decades. If the government fulfils its plans, Sweden would be the first country to recognise Palestine while being a member of the EU. The former centre-right government would not recognise Palestine as the Palestinian authorities did not control their territory.

The Palestinians want an independent state in the West Bank and Gaza, with its capital East Jerusalem. Gaza's boundaries are clearly defined, but the precise territory that would constitute Palestine in the West Bank and East Jerusalem would only be determined via negotiations with Israel on a two-state solution, which are currently suspended.