Ireland, Spain, and Norway declared on Wednesday that they would recognize a state for Palestine on May 28. They expressed hope that other Western nations would do the same, leading Israel to recall its ambassadors.
The action, according to Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, is intended to quicken the pace of efforts to obtain a ceasefire in Israel’s conflict with Hamas in Gaza.
Months have been spent by Spain and its allies pleading with European countries, such as France, Portugal, Belgium, and Slovenia, to endorse the establishment of a Palestinian state.
“We hope that our recognition and our reasons contribute to other western countries to follow this path because the more we are, the more strength we will have to impose a ceasefire, to achieve the release of the hostages held by Hamas, to relaunch the political process that can lead to a peace agreement,” he said in a speech to the country’s lower house.
Months have been spent by Spain and its allies pleading with European countries, such as France, Portugal, Belgium, and Slovenia, to endorse the establishment of a Palestinian state. “Today, Ireland, Norway, and Spain are announcing that we recognise the state of Palestine,” Irish Taoiseach Simon Harris said at a press conference in Dublin. “Each of us will now undertake whatever national steps are necessary to give effect to that decision.”
He added that Ireland was unequivocal in fully recognising Israel and its right to exist “securely and in peace with its neighbours”, and he called for all hostages in Gaza to be immediately returned.
Earlier, Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere announced that his country will recognize an independent Palestinian state in the hopes that this will contribute to peace negotiations with Israel.
According to sources, Spain and Ireland will also declare their support for a Palestinian state on Wednesday.
Members of the European Union, Slovenia and Malta, have also stated in recent weeks that they intend to recognize Palestine, claiming that a two-state solution is necessary for enduring peace in the region.
“In the middle of a war, with tens of thousands of dead and injured, we must keep alive the only thing that can provide a safe home for both Israelis and Palestinians: two states that can live in peace with each other,” Stoere told a press conference.
Prior to the declaration, about 143 of the 193 UN members acknowledged the existence of a Palestinian state.
Different approaches have been taken by European nations on this issue. While some countries, like Sweden, recognized the state of Palestine 10 years ago, France does not currently have plans to do the same unless it can be a useful tool in advancing peace negotiations.
The actions coincide with the assaults by Israeli forces on the northern and southern borders of the Gaza Strip in May, which resulted in a fresh exodus of hundreds of thousands of people and severely curtailed the supply of aid, increasing the likelihood of famine.
In line with what the US has said on the matter, non-EU member Norway has long stated that it would recognize Palestine as a nation only if it could positively influence the peace process.
Norway is a close U.S. ally, and the Nordic country has sought to help broker peace between Israel and the Palestinians on several occasions in recent decades.
