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THE VATICAN officially recognised Palestine as a state under a new treaty yesterday.
It had previously maintained diplomatic relations with the Palestine Liberation organisation, but the treaty, which remains to be ratified, transfers this relationship to the Palestinian state.
Palestine has been occupied by Israel since the 1967 six-day war, but despite this, more and more governments have recognised its claim to statehood in recent years.
Vatican foreign spokesman Reverend Federico Lombardi said: “Yes, it’s a recognition that the state exists.”
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is due to visit Pope Francis on Saturday before the canonisation of two Palestinian nuns as saints on Sunday.
The Vatican has unofficially recognised Palestine for at least a year and the pope referred to Mr Abbas as the president of the “state of Palestine” last year.
