Three European countries officially recognize Palestinian state
Spain, Norway and Ireland have announced their formal recognition of a Palestinian state, which will take effect on May 28.
This decision met with wide Palestinian welcome and outrage from the Israeli side.
The Prime Minister of Norway, Jonas Gare Storre, stated that his country will recognize Palestine as an independent state starting from May 28, noting that the aim of this recognition is to promote the establishment of a politically independent Palestinian state, based on the Palestinian Authority.
He stressed that the two-state solution is in Israel’s interest.
Storre also noted that peace and stability in the region require a political solution based on two states living side by side in peace and security.
He stressed that the war in Gaza clearly showed the need to resolve the Palestinian issue to achieve peace.
For its part, the Norwegian Foreign Ministry announced in a statement that it had informed the Palestinian and Israeli authorities of the decision to recognize the Palestinian state.
Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide explained that this recognition will contribute to the consolidation of peace in the region, stressing that recognition of Palestine after the Oslo Accords could have prevented the current tragedies in Gaza.
In Spain, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez announced that his country would recognize the state of Palestine on May 28, explaining that the Spanish people express their peacefulness through protests against violence in Gaza.
He accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of jeopardizing the two-state solution by continuing to destroy Gaza.
In Ireland, Prime Minister Simon Harris confirmed that Dublin would recognize a Palestinian state, calling on other countries to join the move.
Harris said at a joint press conference with Secretary of State Michael Martin and Transportation Secretary Eamonn Ryan that the Palestinian people deserve a future full of hope and peace, stressing that peace cannot be achieved without equality.
For its part, the Palestinian Authority welcomed the Norwegian, Spanish and Irish steps, praising the positions of these countries in support of the rights of the Palestinian people.
The Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) and Hamas also expressed their appreciation for the move, considering it an important support for the Palestinian struggle for liberation and independence.
On the other hand, Israel recalled its ambassadors to Ireland and Norway for consultations, and Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz expressed his country’s strong dissatisfaction with these steps, stressing that Israel will not remain silent towards them.
139 of the 193 UN member states recognize a Palestinian state, including eight from the European Union.
