Ireland will formally recognise Palestine as an independent state.
Taoiseach Simon Harris has made the announcement this morning, with the recognition formally taking effect from next week, on May 28th.
Norway and Spain have also recognised the State, and Israel has recalled its ambassadors from Dublin and Norway in protest.
Speaking at a press conference at Government Buildings on Wednesday morning, Taoiseach Simon Harris says this is a historic day for Ireland and Palestine.
"From our own history, we know what it means.
"Recognition is an act of powerful, political, and symbolic value.
"It is an expression of our view that Palestine holds and should be able to vindicate the full rights of a State, including self-determination, self-governance, territorial integrity, and security, as well as recognizing Palestine's own obligations under international law".
Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Micheál Martin, says Ireland has invested a lot of time and energy in supporting Palestine.
"Over decades, we have engaged with the governments, leaders and peoples of the Middle East.
"In recent months we have worked intensively with European and Arab partners to ensure that our decision to recognise a Palestinian state would be taken as part of a comprehensive, political framework that can finally end this brutal conflict".
