Rabat – Algeria, long known for supporting Palestinian statehood without recognizing Israel, surprised the international community by voting in favor of the United Nations’ New York Declaration on Friday.
The resolution calls for a two-state solution, supporting the establishment of an independent Palestinian state while recognizing Israel’s right to statehood, and condemns Hamas’ attacks on October 7, 2023. This vote marks a stark departure from Algeria’s previous stance of rejecting any recognition of Israel.
The New York Declaration, co-sponsored by France and Saudi Arabia, calls for a two-state solution that establishes an independent Palestinian state alongside Israel.
The resolution condemns the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks on Israel, demands the release of hostages, and urges Hamas to relinquish control of Gaza to the Palestinian Authority. It also proposes deploying an international stabilization force in Gaza and outlines steps toward Palestinian sovereignty.
The resolution passed with 142 votes in favor, 10 against, and 12 abstentions. Notably, Algeria’s vote in favor was a significant shift from its previous positions.
Algeria’s previous stance
Algeria has historically been a staunch supporter of Palestinian rights and an advocate for the establishment of a Palestinian state without recognizing Israel. Algerian officials have consistently emphasized the need for Palestinian sovereignty without any recognition of Israel.
In April 2024, Algerian Foreign Minister Ahmed Attaf called for granting Palestine full membership in the United Nations, stating, “The time has come to make Palestine a fully recognized state in the United Nations.”
This rhetoric aligns with Algeria’s longstanding position of supporting Palestinian statehood while opposing any recognition of Israel.
And that’s what makes Algeria’s vote in favor of the New York Declaration a significant diplomatic shift. The resolution’s endorsement of a two-state solution and its call for the establishment of a Palestinian state alongside Israel directly contradict Algeria’s previous stance.
In an interview with French daily Le Point in February this year, President Abdelmadjid Tebboune suggested that Algeria would be open to recognizing Israel only upon the establishment of a Palestinian state. “Our priority is the establishment of a Palestinian state,” said the Algerian president, stressing that Algeria would normalize relations with Israel “the very day there is a Palestinian state.”
Algerian Political analyst Oualid Kebir commented on this development, stating, “Algeria voted in favor of the UN General Assembly resolution or ‘New York Declaration’ that condemned the attacks committed by Hamas on October 7 and called for its disarmament, its exclusion from ruling Gaza, and normalization between Israel and Arab countries.”
Despite officially claiming an uncompromising and total rejection of “the zionist entity,” Algeria has also engaged in trade with Israel. In 2023, Algeria exported $30.5 million worth of hydrogen to Israel.
This trade relationship further contradicts Algeria’s public condemnation of Arab nations that have normalized relations with Israel. Such a discrepancy between Algeria’s rhetoric and diplomatic reality has led many in these Arab countries to denounce Algiers for criticizing those who officially engage with Israel while it has long been doing the same in the shadows.
