Iceland formally recognized the Palestinian state at a ceremony in Reykjavik on Thursday, December 15, becoming one of the first Western European countries to do so.

"This is the day I formally submit to you the declaration of Palestine independence in accordance to the will of the Icelandic parliament," Icelandic Foreign Minister Oessur Skarphedinsson said, addressing his Palestinian counterpart Riad Malki at a news conference, The Daily Star reported.