Which countries recognise the state of Palestine ? According to an AFP tally, at least 151 countries out of 193 UN members now recognise the state of Palestine. Algeria became the first country to officially recognise a Palestinian state on November 15, 1988, minutes after late Palestine Liberation Organisation leader Yasser Arafat unilaterally proclaimed an independent Palestinian state. Israeli Prime MinisterBenjamin Netanyahu's government completely rejects the idea of a Palestinian state. "Because once you recognise Palestinian statehood... you essentially put Palestine and Israel on level footing in terms of their treatment under international law."