Rabat – Spain, Norway, and Ireland formally recognized the State of Palestine today, breaking with the long-standing view of many Western powers that Palestinian statehood should result from negotiations with Israel.
The decision, approved by the respective cabinets of each country, reflects growing European support for Palestinian sovereignty in the wake of the devastating war on Gaza.
Spanish government spokesperson Pilar Alegria said that this “important decision” the cabinet has made aims to “help Israelis and Palestinians achieve peace.”
Meanwhile, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez described the recognition as a matter of “historic justice,” reflecting the sentiment among the three countries that now is the time to take a definitive stance.
Similarly, Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide emphasized Norway’s long-standing support for Palestinian statehood, saying that his country has been “one of the most fervent defenders of a Palestinian state for more than 30 years.”
Ireland’s government also confirmed its official recognition of Palestine as a sovereign state and its intention to “establish full diplomatic relations between Dublin and Ramallah.”
“An Ambassador of Ireland to the State of Palestine will be appointed along with a full Embassy of Ireland in Ramallah,” the Irish government said.
Irish Prime Minister Simon Harris said that officially recognizing a Palestinian state is about keeping “the miracle of peace alive.” He called on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to “listen to the world and stop the humanitarian catastrophe we are seeing in Gaza.”
These recognitions bring the total number of United Nations member states recognizing Palestine to 145 out of 193. Malta and Slovenia have also indicated a willingness to recognize Palestine when circumstances allow. Meanwhile, Australia and French President Emmanuel Macron have suggested that they too might consider similar actions in the future, although Macron stressed that it should be done at “the right moment.”
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The move by the three European countries has drawn strong condemnation from Israel, with Netanyahu labeling it as a “reward for terrorism.” He added, “this evil must not be given a country.”
The backdrop to these recognitions is Israel’s ongoing devastating war on Gaza, where Israel’s offensive has resulted in the deaths of at least 36,050 people.
This surge in violence and aggression has intensified calls within Europe and around the world for a reevaluation of Palestinian statehood.
Sunday’s large-scale attack on a displaced persons camp in Rafah, which followed the International Court of Justice’s (ICJ) ruling ordering Israel to withdraw from the area, has further fueled international opinion.
