Peru recognises Palestine as "free and sovereign" state

Peru recognised a "free and sovereign" Palestinian state, joining a recent wave of Latin American countries.
"Today the government communicated to the ambassador of Palestine in Lima recognition of the Palestinian state as free and sovereign," said Peruvian Foreign Minister Jose Antonio Belaunde on Monday.
Brazil led the move to recognise Palestine late last year, and has since been joined by Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Ecuador, Guyana and Uruguay.
An Israeli official earlier this month dismissed recognition of a Palestinian state by the Latin American nations as "a useless and empty gesture because it will not change anything."
But with peace talks stalled, the Palestinians have said they are considering new diplomatic options and have welcomed the recognition.