Czechia defies trend: No recognition of Palestine, yet
Czechia remains one of the few EU countries firmly opposed to recognizing Palestine unless both sides recognize each other. Foreign Minister Jan Lipavský (Spolu) says recognition now would reward Hamas and harm prospects for dialogue.
Czechia holds firm on non-recognition of Palestine
The Czech Republic continues to back a two-state solution in the Middle East but sees no value in recognizing Palestine under current circumstances, Foreign Minister Jan Lipavský has said. Speaking on the government’s position, Lipavský stressed that recognition must follow meaningful dialogue and mutual agreement between the parties.
"The Czech Republic supports a two‑state solution, which naturally ultimately means recognizing the State of Palestine. On the other hand, at this moment I do not consider such recognition of the State of Palestine to be productive. Gaza is effectively controlled by the terrorist movement Hamas, and this must be the result of mutual agreement — including, for example, mutual recognition on the Palestinian side. So it is about a dialogue that needs to be conducted," said Lipavský.
His comments come as several European countries, including France, have signaled they could recognize the State of Palestine later this year, arguing it could help break the stalemate in the peace process. Britain and Canada are also considering similar moves, though Ottawa says certain conditions would first need to be met. For Prague, however, the move risks sending the wrong political message.
A longstanding policy position
Irena Kalhousová, head of the Herzl Center for Israel Studies at Charles University in Prague, says the stance is not surprising.
“I think the Czech position remains constant. Maybe also the Czech diplomacy, the Czech political elite, they might see the recognition of Palestine in this stage as some kind of a recognition of what Hamas did on the October 7th. So maybe that's another reason why the Czechs are a little bit more hesitant compared to other countries in Europe and also in the western hemisphere which are contemplating or thinking about recognizing Palestine this fall.”
The 1988 recognition question
The Czech stance is rooted in decades of foreign policy consistency — but also in historical complexities. In 1988, communist Czechoslovakia officially recognized the State of Palestine, a decision made in a very different geopolitical context.
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“Yes, that's another issue and as you said I'm not a lawyer but the fact is that Czechoslovakia of course under a different regime, it was a communist regime, recognized Palestine in 1988 and therefore I wonder, you know, if what that would mean if the Czech Republic recognized Palestine once again, if there is even the need to recognize Palestine again. But I don't know to what extent this played a role in the Czech decision or to what extent, you know, there are other issues, the issues which we already mentioned, which are more important and which are behind the decision of the Czech Republic currently,”
Kalhousová said.
One of Israel’s closest allies in the EU
For Israel, Kalhousová believes, Prague’s position reinforces its image as one of the most pro-Israeli voices in the European Union — even if smaller states like the Czech Republic lack the geopolitical weight of France, Germany, or the United Kingdom.
“I think the Israelis know that the Czech Republic is one of the most pro-Israeli, most friendly countries in the European Union and even though of course the big players which you mentioned are important, I think for Israel also those smaller countries like the Czech Republic are really key allies because they kind of balance more pro-Palestinian countries in the European Union. So I think, yes, it's kind of a confirmation that really the Czechs are very close friends and allies of Israel and I think it will be appreciated as such.”
With the war in Gaza continuing and political divisions deepening across the Middle East, the Czech government shows no sign of shifting its position. For now, recognition of Palestine remains off the table in Prague — unless and until it emerges as part of a negotiated peace agreement between the two sides.
