Regional council urges Rome to back Palestinian statehood amid growing national debate.The Regional Council of Tuscany has approved a motion calling on the Italian government to formally recognise the State of Palestine, placing the central Italian region among a growing number of local institutions seeking to take a political stand on the conflict in the Middle East.The vote, which followed a heated debate in Florence, commits the regional administration to urge Rome to support recognition within the framework of a two-state solution. While foreign policy remains the exclusive competence of the national government, regional councils in Italy can pass political motions that signal their position on international issues.A symbolic but political moveThe motion does not alter Italy’s diplomatic stance directly, but it carries symbolic weight. Regional assemblies have increasingly used such resolutions to express positions on global conflicts, from Ukraine to Gaza, reflecting the pressure local politicians face from civil society groups and public opinion. Supporters of the measure argued that recognition of Palestine is a necessary step toward reviving a credible peace process. They framed the vote as a reaffirmation of international law and the principle of self-determination. Opposition parties, however, criticised the initiative as either premature or outside the proper remit of a regional authority, arguing that foreign affairs should remain strictly in the hands of the national government. The national contextItaly has historically supported a two-state solution but has not formally recognised Palestine as a sovereign state. The issue periodically resurfaces in parliament, particularly during escalations of violence in Gaza and the West Bank. Several European countries have recently moved toward formal recognition, intensifying debate within EU member states. Regional motions such as the one approved in Tuscany add to the political pressure, even if they do not carry binding diplomatic consequences. A broader debate in ItalyThe decision in Tuscany reflects a broader and increasingly polarised national conversation about the Middle East conflict. Universities, municipalities and civic organisations across Italy have staged demonstrations and passed their own motions in recent months. By adopting this resolution, Tuscany’s regional council aligns itself with those calling for stronger European engagement in pushing for a negotiated settlement. Whether Rome will respond to such calls remains uncertain. What is clear is that, even at a regional level, foreign policy questions are no longer distant matters. They are being debated in local chambers, shaped by domestic politics and the evolving international landscape.

The Regional Council of Tuscany has approved a motion calling on the Italian government to formally recognise the State of Palestine, placing the central Italian region among a growing number of local institutions seeking to take a political stand on the conflict in the Middle East.The vote, which followed a heated debate in Florence, commits the regional administration to urge Rome to support recognition within the framework of a two-state solution. While foreign policy remains the exclusive competence of the national government, regional councils in Italy can pass political motions that signal their position on international issues. The motion does not alter Italy’s diplomatic stance directly, but it carries symbolic weight. Regional assemblies have increasingly used such resolutions to express positions on global conflicts, from Ukraine to Gaza, reflecting the pressure local politicians face from civil society groups and public opinion. Supporters of the measure argued that recognition of Palestine is a necessary step toward reviving a credible peace process. They framed the vote as a reaffirmation of international law and the principle of self-determination. Opposition parties, however, criticised the initiative as either premature or outside the proper remit of a regional authority, arguing that foreign affairs should remain strictly in the hands of the national government. Italy has historically supported a two-state solution but has not formally recognised Palestine as a sovereign state. The issue periodically resurfaces in parliament, particularly during escalations of violence in Gaza and the West Bank. Several European countries have recently moved toward formal recognition, intensifying debate within EU member states. Regional motions such as the one approved in Tuscany add to the political pressure, even if they do not carry binding diplomatic consequences. The decision in Tuscany reflects a broader and increasingly polarised national conversation about the Middle East conflict. Universities, municipalities and civic organisations across Italy have staged demonstrations and passed their own motions in recent months. By adopting this resolution, Tuscany’s regional council aligns itself with those calling for stronger European engagement in pushing for a negotiated settlement. Whether Rome will respond to such calls remains uncertain. What is clear is that, even at a regional level, foreign policy questions are no longer distant matters. They are being debated in local chambers, shaped by domestic politics and the evolving international landscape.