There is definitely some confusion in the Times of Malta article published last Sunday over Malta’s recognition of the Palestinian State. I don’t think that diplomats have claimed that the US is exerting pressure on Malta not to recognise the Palestinian State, but rather that Malta is taking a pro-US stance, and supposedly, that is why Malta has not joined Spain and Ireland to recognise the State of Palestine.
I can confirm from both Maltese and US diplomats that there is no pressure over the issue, and, in fact, the US didn’t even broach the subject with Malta at all. There have been no talks informally or formally over Malta recognising the State of Palestine not with the US, nor with anyone else. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez asked Robert Abela to join his initiative, but even Sanchez didn’t relay any pressure or is keeping any expectations. The immediate recognition of the Palestinian State was mostly a Spanish and Irish initiative and various EU member states have been asked by them to join the initiative. There has been little or no discussion about it by Malta with foreign countries, yet.
The Ministry for Foreign Affairs replied to the Times that Malta saying it has no objections on recognising the State of Palestine. I could also confirm that a Cabinet decision is also pending about the issue which would be the right thing to do by procedure over such a big decision with many foreign affairs implications.
The Maltese government has so far never changed its very strong pro-Palestinian position and the Prime Minister even refused to condemn Hamas. The Palestinian Ambassador to Malta Fadi Hanania even praised Malta’s efforts at the United Nations Security Council to bring a ceasefire resolution to the table. There seems to be little or no connection with Malta’s relationship with the US and its positions on Palestine and Israel. Of all countries, the US would be the least concerned with Malta recognising Palestine, if at all, given that the US position would probably be aligned with such a decision in principle by a Democratic administration
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