SOLOMON Islands has not granted any recognition to the State of Palestine, despite 150 of the United Nations’ 193 member states having done so.
The State of Palestine currently holds the status of a Permanent Observer State at the UN.
According to BBC reports, some countries—including the United States—do not recognise a Palestinian state, saying they will only do so as part of a long-term political solution to the conflict in the Middle East.
However, in September 2025, the United Kingdom, France, Canada, Australia, Portugal and several other European nations announced their formal recognition of the Palestinian state.
Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele told local media on Monday that Solomon Islands’ position over the past 20 years has been in support of a two-state solution.
BBC describes the “two-state solution” as an internationally backed framework for peace between Israel and the Palestinians.
It envisions an independent Palestinian state in the West Bank and Gaza—with East Jerusalem as its capital—coexisting peacefully alongside Israel.
Israel rejects the two-state solution, arguing that any final settlement must result from direct negotiations with the Palestinians, and that statehood should not be a precondition. The Palestinian Authority supports the two-state formula, but Hamas does not, as it opposes the existence of Israel.
Hamas has said it could accept an interim Palestinian state based on the 1967 borders, without officially recognising Israel, provided refugees are granted the right to return.
Earlier efforts to resolve the conflict included the Oslo Peace Accords in 1993, which were intended to provide a framework for peace talks. However, negotiations eventually collapsed, with both sides blaming each other.
Prime Minister Manele said Solomon Islands believes in the peaceful coexistence of the two peoples.
“The difference here is about 142-plus countries supporting the two-state solution. But that is the end product—that’s the end of the line,” he said.
“We have to work towards that. Some countries among those 142, such as Australia, Canada, and the UK, have now decided to grant recognition to the Palestinian state.
“We have not reached that stage yet because we believe there are a number of issues that must be addressed before recognition—such as a ceasefire, clearly defined boundaries for Palestine, and the safety of humanitarian workers. So in terms of recognition—no, we have not granted that recognition as yet.”
He added that the two-state solution has been debated for over 20 years, describing the Middle East conflict as a deeply complicated issue.
“There are three religions that were born out of Palestine or Israel—Judaism, Christianity, and Islam—and they all have claims over the land,” Manele said.
“We know that this conflict started long before modern times, even tracing back to biblical days. We hope that one day, probably through the current 20-point peace plan of President Trump, progress can be made.”
Prime Minister Manele reaffirmed that Solomon Islands recognises Israel.
“We have diplomatic relations with Israel, and we send people there for training. We will continue to maintain those relations.
“But I believe it’s also important for us to look at the other side and see how we can balance our relations with other countries in the Middle East, including the Gulf states,” he said.
By EDDIE OSIFELO
Solomon Star, Honiara
