Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1546363
ONCE upon a time, Malta had states- men like Dom Mintoff and Guido de Marco at the forefront of advocacy for Palestinian self-determination. They used international fora like the United Nations or the non-aligned movement to push what had become a core tenant of Malta's foreign policy. Ironically, now that Malta sits at the same table of bigger and influential European nations, it seems to have lost its yearning to lead. Instead, Malta is keener to follow other countries even if it has not abandoned the Palestin- ian cause. But former Foreign Minister Evarist Bartolo believes the deeper change is one of "political dignity". It is a sen- timent shared by Karl Schembri, a former journalist and human rights activist, who has documented history from Gaza itself. Malta, they argue, has progressive- ly lost the backbone to stand up for what it believes in when doing so risks angering more powerful coun- tries or economic interests. For Bartolo, the return of Ameri- can President Donald Trump to the White House has made that loss of independence particularly visible. He believes pressure on Malta from the US and pro-Israel interests has in- creased considerably since Trump's re-election. Bartolo puts the issue in stark terms. "My impression is that upon Trump's return to office some decision was taken in Malta to obey the USA," he says. "We are increasingly acting like we are a US colony and our foreign policy is losing on substance." He bluntly describes the influence of pro-Israel interests in Washing- ton: "The Zionist lobby controls the White House." Ironically, he adds, this is happening as US public opinion shifts against Is- raeli Prime Minister Benjamin Net- anyahu's policies. From possible leader to follower Malta did recognise the State of Pal- estine in September 2025. It also con- tinues to support a two-state solu- tion in the Middle East and Foreign Minister Chris Fearne says Malta is among the EU countries pushing for collective action against Israel over settlement expansion in the West Bank. But Malta's recognition of Palestine illustrates the changing dynamic in its foreign policy. In March 2024, Malta joined Ire- land, Slovenia and Spain in declaring its readiness to recognise Palestine when circumstances were right. It was a bold move. Nonetheless, when Ireland, Spain and Norway formally announced recognition of the State of Palestine in May 2024, Malta was absent. Slovenia recognised Palestine a month later. Instead, Malta waited until Sep- tember 2025, when Prime Minister Robert Abela formally announced recognition of Palestine at the United Nations General Assembly alongside a much wider group of countries, in- cluding France and the United King- dom. The decision was significant and consistent with Malta's longstand- ing position. But the chronology al- so showed that Malta was no longer leading the European recognition drive. Despite being part of the initial ini- tiative, Malta waited while other Eu- ropean states acted. For Karl Schembri, this is sympto- matic of a broader loss of ambition. "It is undeniable that over the past years there was a change in our at- titude, which sharply contrasts with our policies when we had politicians like Dom Mintoff and Guido de Mar- co," he says. "I am not romanticising that era but one has to say that Mal- ta has lost the national ambition to make a difference and stand up for something in the world." It was an era that gave Malta stat- ure, Schembri says. "Standing up for something which counts… that 9 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 30 AUGUST 2026 FEATURE CONTINUES NEXT PAGE> Malta and Palestine: The small country that stopped standing tall Once willing to punch above its weight on the Palestinian cause, Malta now appears increasingly reluctant to lead. James Debono catches up with former Foreign Minister Evarist Bartolo and former journalist and human rights activist Karl Schembri to ask why