Just days before Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is due to visit Rome and the Vatican has agreed the text for its first treaty formally recognising the State of Palestine.

Papal politics: Vatican document uses term 'state of Palestine' for first time in history http://t.co/XeltLmuWSq pic.twitter.com/Zvw2M031If— Haaretz.com (@haaretzcom) May 13, 2015


The document which will be signed shortly constitutes an official diplomatic acknowledgment. It has been welcomed by Senior Palestinian officials such as Hanan Ashrawi:

“We are indeed extremely encouraged by the Vatican recognition of the state of Palestine. We also see this as a very positive development, not just politically but in moral terms, human terms, in legal terms and it prepares for a whole new era in which Palestine will be seen by the whole world as a state.”

The Vatican’s announcement comes amid growing momentum to recognise Palestinian statehood. Over the last year the European Parliament as well as the UK,