In the midst of the deadly war in the Gaza Strip between Hamas and Israel, several European countries announced, Wednesday May 22, an initiative aimed at recognizing a State of Palestine, a project already castigated by the Israeli authorities.
Israeli Foreign Ministry Israel Katz announced the recall on Wednesday “for consultation” of its ambassadors in Ireland and Norway, after Norway’s decision to recognize a State of Palestine and the announcement – which was at that time expected – from Ireland. “Today I send a clear message to Ireland and Norway: Israel will not remain silent on this issue”he declared, quoted in a press release from his services.
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“The government has decided to recognize the State of Palestine”, said Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store on Wednesday at a press conference in Oslo, specifying that the decision would be effective from May 28. Mr. Store at the same time launched “a strong call” to other countries to do the same.
Ireland has in turn announced the recognition of a Palestinian state, its Prime Minister, Simon Harris, declared on Wednesday in a joint announcement with Oslo and Madrid. “Today, Ireland, Norway and Spain announce the recognition of the State of Palestine”said Mr. Harris, welcoming a “historic and important day for Ireland and Palestine”.
A “twisted” approach, according to Israel Katz
Ireland and Norway want to send “a message to the Palestinians and the whole world: terrorism pays”reacted the head of Israeli diplomacy. “After the terrorist organization Hamas carried out the largest massacre of Jews since the Holocaust, after committing the most horrific sexual crimes the world has known, these countries chose to reward Hamas and Iran and recognize a Palestinian state »he estimated.
He described their approach as “twisted”considering that it was a “Injustice towards the memory of the victims of October 7” and that she wore “undermining Israel’s right to self-defense”.
Last week, the Spanish Prime Minister, Pedro Sanchez, had already announced that he would announce the date of Madrid’s recognition of a Palestinian state. He was scheduled to speak to MPs early Wednesday. In March, Mr. Sanchez also published a joint statement with the heads of government of Ireland, Slovenia and Malta in which these countries expressed their desire to recognize such a state. In April, during a visit by Mr. Sanchez to Norway and Ireland, Madrid, Oslo and Dublin said they were ready to recognize a Palestinian state. “in close coordination”in the words of Mr. Store.
“Recognition can no longer wait for a peace solution”
According to the Palestinian Authority’s count, 142 of the 193 member states of the United Nations (UN) have expressed their recognition of a Palestinian state. On Tuesday, in a video message to Dublin published on the social network X, the Israeli Foreign Ministry warned: “Recognizing a Palestinian state risks turning you into a pawn in the hands of Iran” and Hamas. This measure will not “what fuels extremism and instability”according to Israeli diplomacy.
For Israel, projects in this direction constitute a “reward for terrorism” which would make a negotiated solution to the war in the Gaza Strip less likely. Mr. Store once again condemned Hamas and assured that the recognition of a Palestinian state constituted a sign of “support for moderate forces who are on the decline in a horrible and prolonged conflict”. “Recognition can no longer wait for a peace solution”he said.
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