On Wednesday, Spain, Norway, and Ireland announced they are proceeding to recognize Palestine as an independent, sovereign state. They are the first Western European countries to do so.
Over 140 countries including the Holy See had previously recognized Palestine as a state.
Wednesday’s morning joint announcement by the Prime Ministers of the three countries is seen as a rebuke to Israel over its conduct of the war in Gaza and the prolonged occupation of Palestinian territories which has come at high cost in Palestinian civilian lives.
“Palestinians have a fundamental right to an independent state,” Jonas Gahr Store, the Norwegian PM said at the news conference in Oslo.
Spain PM, Pedro Sánchez, told his Parliament before leaving for Oslo that Israel does not appear to have any plan for peace with the Palestinians. He said it was therefore necessary for Spain to act to help Palestine. “The two-state solution is in danger,” Mr. Sanchez said. He was referring to the longstanding proposed framework for establishing a state of Palestine alongside Israel.
Prime Minister Simon Harris of Ireland said he is confident more countries would follow their example in the coming weeks.
The United States and some key Western European countries have refused to accept Palestinian statehood. America’s foreign policy aims at a two-state solution but U.S. officials say it is unhelpful for third-party countries to unilaterally recognize Palestine without a negotiated settlement between Israel and Palestine.
Israel Displeased
Predictably, Israel was highly displeased with the announcement. It immediately recalled its ambassadors from Ireland and Norway. Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz stated, “Today’s decision sends a message to the Palestinians and the world that terrorism pays”. He said there would be consequences but did not elaborate. Israel considers a Palestinian state as an existential threat to it.
Palestinians Celebrate
But in the occupied Gaza and West Bank, outburst of celebration greeted the Wednesday recognition. “We believe it will help preserve the two-state solution and give Palestinians hope that they will have their state side by side with Israel in peace and security,” Ziad Abu Amr, a senior Palestinian official, said in an interview.
Norway’s decision is particularly noteworthy. It was in Norway that the 1993 Oslo Peace Accord brokered by then U.S. President Bill Clinton was signed. It was a landmark peace agreement which led to the establishment of the Palestinian Authority with limited self-rule powers in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
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