A majority of countries around the world have unilaterally recognized a Palestinian state. By the Palestinian Authority's own count, some 137 countries out of 193 UN states have expressed recognition.
This is not the case for most countries in Western Europe, North America, Australia, Japan and South Korea. The Palestinians are also launching a diplomatic offensive at the level of international institutions. By a historic vote in November 2012, they became a United Nations observer state, which, in the absence of full membership status, gives them access to UN agencies and treaties.