Palestine expects independence from nine countries in 2023.

Palestine expects nine more countries to recognize its independence in 2023, Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad al-Maliki said.

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Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas said earlier that the recognition of Palestine is the key to peace in the region. Currently, 138 states recognize the independence of Palestine.

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“The issue of recognition is an ongoing matter. We take it very seriously and we want the number of countries to possibly reach 155 in 2023. We expect nine countries to recognize Palestine in 2023,” al-Maliki said.

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The Palestinian minister said he would visit an unnamed African country in two weeks, which he expected would announce the recognition of Palestine at the end of his visit.

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“Now we are also working with another country in America where they are also working on recognition,” al-Maliki said.

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The Palestinian Foreign Minister added that work is also underway on this issue with 7-8 countries of Western Europe.