Spain, Norway, and Ireland formally recognised a Palestinian state on Tuesday, marking a coordinated effort by the three Western European nations to increase international pressure on Israel to moderate its response to last year’s Hamas-led attack. Tel Aviv criticised the move, stating that it would have no immediate impact on its ongoing war in Gaza.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez announced the decision in a televised address from Madrid, calling it “a historic decision that has a single goal, and that is to help Israelis and Palestinians achieve peace”.
Israel’s Foreign Minister Israel Katz responded quickly, accusing Spain’s government on X of being “complicit in inciting genocide against Jews and war crimes”.
Following Spain’s announcement, Ireland and Norway also formalised the decision they had jointly announced the previous week. In Dublin, the Palestinian flag was raised outside Leinster House, the seat of the Irish parliament.
“This is an important moment and I think it sends a signal to the world that there are practical actions you can take as a country to help keep the hope and destination of a two-state solution alive at a time when others are trying to sadly bomb it into oblivion,” said Irish Prime Minister Simon Harris.
Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide said, “For more than 30 years, Norway has been one of the strongest advocates for a Palestinian state. Today, when Norway officially recognises Palestine as a state, is a milestone in the relationship between Norway and Palestine.”
While over 140 countries have recognised a Palestinian state, none of the major Western powers has done so. The recognition by three European countries represents a victory for Palestinian efforts in global public opinion and is likely to pressure EU heavyweights France and Germany to reconsider their stance.
EU-Israel Rift Deepens
Relations between the EU and Israel deteriorated following the recognition by two EU members. Madrid instead that the EU should take measures against Israel for its continued attacks in southern Gaza’s city of Rafah.
After Monday’s EU foreign ministers’ meeting, Irish Foreign Minister Micheal Martin remarked, “For the first time at an EU meeting, in a real way, I have seen a significant discussion on sanctions” for Israel.
Irish leader Harris called for the EU to consider economic sanctions against Israel, saying, “Europe could be doing a hell of a lot more”.
Norway, which often aligns its foreign policy with the EU despite not being a member, handed diplomatic papers to the Palestinian government over the weekend ahead of its formal recognition.
EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrel supported the International Criminal Court, whose prosecutor is seeking an arrest warrant against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and leaders of the Hamas militant group.
The formal declaration and resulting diplomatic dispute occurred over seven months into an Israeli assault following the October 7 Hamas-led attack in which militants stormed across the border into Israel, killing 1,200 people and taking about 250 hostages. Israel’s air and land attacks have since killed 36,000 Palestinians, AP reported citing Gaza’s Health Ministry.
Last week’s joint announcement by Spain, Ireland, and Norway provoked an angry response from Israeli authorities, who summoned the countries’ ambassadors in Tel Aviv to the Foreign Ministry. They were shown videos of the October 7 Hamas attack and abductions.
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