Lavrov questions delay in Western recognition of Palestine

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov questioned the timing of recent announcements by Western governments regarding the recognition of the State of Palestine.

“Recently a number of Western governments announced their recognition of the state of Palestine. Moreover, they announced their intention to do so several months ago. The question then arises, why did they wait so long? It seems that they had hoped that soon, by the time the General Assembly session was convened there would be nothing and no one left to recognize,” Lavrov said.

In his remarks, Lavrov also accused Western countries of disregarding international law and the principle of the non-use of force. He cited past military interventions in Yugoslavia, Iraq, and Libya as examples of what he described as violations of this principle.