Spain, Ireland and Norway decided on Wednesday May 22 to officially recognize the State of Palestine. This is the first time since 2014 and a similar decision taken by Sweden that European states have taken this symbolic step. On May 9, Slovenia also began the procedure for recognizing the Palestinian state, which could be effective at the end of the month.
Read also | Recognition of a State of Palestine: Israel recalls its ambassadors to Ireland and Norway
Add to your selections
Since the terrorist attack on October 7, 2023, by Hamas in Israel, which caused nearly 1,200 Israeli victims, these four countries have provided their support to the Jewish state and recognized its right to defend itself within the limits of the law. international humanitarian. But, after more than 35,000 victims and the destruction of more than 70% of homes in the Gaza Strip, these states wish “break the current cycle of violence”, according to the head of Spanish diplomacy, José Manuel Albares. Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz immediately announced the recall ” for consultation “ of its ambassadors in the three countries. “Today’s decision sends a message to Palestinians and the world: terrorism pays”did he declare.
As European capitals divide over the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the initiative seeks to restart the peace process on the basis of the two-state solution, in line with Europe’s historic principled position. “A Palestinian state is essential to achieving the two-state solution conceptualized in the 1947 United Nations Partition Planrecalled on May 10, Espen Barth Eide, the Norwegian Minister of Foreign Affairs. Israelis and Palestinians cannot return to life as they knew it on October 6 [2023]. »
Read also | Article reserved for our subscribers The issue of recognition of Palestine as a state
Add to your selections
According to the President of the Spanish Government, Pedro Sanchez, this gesture must be accompanied by “the recognition of Israel by its neighbors” Arabs, because “mutual recognition is the key to reaching a lasting solution to this conflict”. Concretely, this act does not concern a defined Palestinian territory, the contours of which will depend on future negotiations, but it should in principle extend to the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, territories occupied since 1967 by Israel, and Jerusalem is recognized as its capital.
These four European capitals join the 139 which have already recognized this state after its proclamation by the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) in 1988. So far, only nine European Union (EU) countries have crossed this stage: six come from the Soviet bloc (Poland, Hungary, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Romania, Bulgaria), Malta and Cyprus from 1988, and Sweden in 2014.
You have 63.71% of this article left to read. The rest is reserved for subscribers.
