Spain, Ireland, Norway officially recognize Palestinian state

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
28 May 2024 11:31

The Slovenian government will consider a proposal this week to recognize Palestine as a state as well.

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Customers stand in a restaurant while Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez appears on a television broadcast in Rivas Vaciamadrid, Spain, Tuesday, May 28, 2024. (AP)

Spain, Ireland, and Norway have officially recognized a Palestinian state in separate statements issued consecutively.

A Spanish government spokeswoman announced that Spain formally recognized a Palestinian state in a decision approved by its cabinet in parallel with similar moves by Ireland and Norway.

Pilar Alegria said the cabinet had "adopted an important decision to recognise a Palestinian state", which had "one objective: to help Israelis and Palestinians achieve peace."

Earlier in the day, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said Spain is recognizing a Palestinian state, including the Gaza Strip and the occupied West Bank, under the Palestinian National Authority with "East Jerusalem as its capital."

In a televised address, Sanchez added that Spain wouldn't recognize any changes to Palestinian borders after 1967 unless all the parties agreed on them. The Spanish government will formally approve the recognition later today.

He noted that recognizing Palestinian statehood is an "essential" step for achieving peace in the region.

Today, the Government of Spain formally approves the official recognition of Palestine as a State.

With this decision, Spain joins the more than 140 countries that already recognize the Palestinian State.

This is a historic decision that has a single goal: to contribute to… pic.twitter.com/J0Mh2vslks
— Pedro Sánchez (@sanchezcastejon) May 28, 2024

"Recognition of the state of Palestine is not only a matter of historic justice... it is also an essential requirement if we are all to achieve peace," he said, noting that it was "not against anyone, least of all Israel."

However, "Israel" denounced the move as a "reward" for the Palestinian Resistance Hamas.

"It is the only way to move towards the solution that we all recognise as the only possible way to achieve a peaceful future: that of a Palestinian state living side-by-side with the state of Israel in peace and security," Sanchez continued.

Meanwhile, Ireland officially recognized the Palestinian state in Parliament, the government announced in a statement, defying "Israel", which had condemned the plan.

"The Government recognises Palestine as a sovereign and independent state and agreed to establish full diplomatic relations between Dublin and Ramallah," the statement read.

"An Ambassador of Ireland to the State of Palestine will be appointed along with a full Embassy of Ireland in Ramallah."

Irish Prime Minister Simon Harris said the move was about keeping hope for "peace alive.

"This decision of Ireland is about keeping hope alive. It is about believing that a two-state solution is the only way for Israel and Palestine to live side by side in peace and security," he said in the statement.

"I again call on Prime Minister Netanyahu of Israel to listen to the world and stop the humanitarian catastrophe we are seeing in Gaza."

Today, the Government announces it will formally recognise the State of Palestine on May 28th.

Today, we state clearly our unambiguous support for the equal right to security, dignity, and self-determination for the Palestinian and Israeli peoples. pic.twitter.com/uGoymhg5VD
— Micheál Martin (@MichealMartinTD) May 22, 2024

At a press conference last week, Harris said, "Today, Ireland, Norway, and Spain are announcing that we recognise the state of Palestine," based on the 1967 established borders, adding, "Each of us will now undertake whatever national steps are necessary to give effect to that decision."

"I'm confident that further countries will join us in taking this important step in the coming weeks."

He highlighted Ireland's role and history in this by saying, "Taking our place on the world stage and being recognised by others as having the right to be there was a matter of the highest importance for the founders of our state."

On its part, Norway hailed its recognition Tuesday of a Palestinian state as a "special day" for its relations with Palestinian authorities.

"Norway has been one of the most fervent defenders of a Palestinian state for more than 30 years," Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide said in a statement, adding, "The day that Norway officially recognises Palestine as a state is a special day for Norway-Palestine relations."

Barth Eide also lamented "Israel's" lack of "constructive commitment" to a Palestinian state.

"It is regrettable that the Israeli government shows no sign of constructive commitment," the Norwegian FM said Tuesday, calling on the international community to boost its efforts for a "two-state solution".

"I trust the Palestinian government will continue the difficult reform work and lay the groundwork for governance in the West Bank as well as Gaza after a ceasefire," he added.

Tuesday's move will mean 145 of the United Nations' 193 member states now recognize Palestinian statehood.

In 2014, Sweden became the first EU member to recognize a Palestinian state.

It followed six other European countries that took the step before joining the bloc: Bulgaria, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, and Romania.

The Hamas Movement welcomed last week's announcement by Ireland, Norway, and Spain of recognizing the State of Palestine, urging countries around the world to follow in their footsteps and recognize the legitimate national rights of the Palestinian people, support their struggle for liberation and independence, and end the Israeli occupation.

In a statement issued last week, the movement described this announcement as an "important step" on the path of establishing the Palestinians' right to their land and independent state with al-Quds as its capital.