Slovenia has announced its decision to recognize Palestine as an independent state, as confirmed by Prime Minister Robert Golub on Thursday. This decision was reported by Qatar-based media outlet Al Jazeera.

Prime Minister Golub stated, "The government has decided to recognize Palestine as an independent and sovereign state." The implementation of this decision now awaits approval from Slovenia's parliament, which is scheduled to vote on the matter next Tuesday, June 4.

This development follows recent moves by other European countries. On May 28, Spain, Ireland, and Norway officially recognized Palestine as an independent state. On the same day, France also signaled its intention to recognize Palestinian statehood. Additionally, Chinese President Xi Jinping reiterated China's full support for Palestinian independence on May 30.

Within the European Union, eight countries—Sweden, Cyprus, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Poland, Slovakia, Romania, and Bulgaria—have already recognized Palestine. Globally, 143 countries voted in favor of recognizing Palestine as a state at the United Nations. 

The Slovenian government’s decision is part of a growing trend among nations to support Palestinian sovereignty and statehood, highlighting a significant shift in international diplomatic stances on the issue.