France, Belgium, Luxembourg, Malta and Andorra declared that they were recognizing the state of Palestine at the UN General Assembly in New York on Monday. These historic decisions bring to 156 the number of countries that currently recognize the Palestinian state. Germany looking for 'two-state solution'The German government won't be taking this step "in the short term," as it officially put it. "We do not consider the conditions for state recognition to be fulfilled in any way at present. At a ceremony marking the 75th anniversary of the founding of the Central Council of Jews in Germany, Merz said "criticism of the Israeli government's policies must be possible; it may even be necessary.