Norway, Ireland, and Spain to acknowledge Palestine as a sovereign nation.
Norway plans to acknowledge Palestine as a sovereign nation by the end of May, with Ireland and Spain following suit. This move is gaining support among other European countries as well.
Norway, led by Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre, proclaimed that recognizing Palestine as a state "is crucial for peace in the Middle East." Støre further emphasized that the Palestinians deserve their own independent nation and that both Israelis and Palestinians deserve to live in peace with separate states. The Norwegian government released a statement that read, "peace in the Middle East cannot be achieved without a two-state solution."
Ireland and Spain have also indicated they will take this step. Ireland had previously declared they would recognize a Palestinian state by month's end.
In response, Israel's Foreign Ministry cautioned the Irish government against this decision, asserting that recognizing a "Palestinian state carries the risk of turning you into a pawn in the hands of Iran and the radical Islamic organization Hamas." They argued that it would only fuel extremism and instability.
Coalition of Support
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez declared he would provide the timeline for Spain's recognition of Palestine. In March, Sánchez signed a joint declaration with heads of government from Ireland, Slovenia, and Malta in Brussels, expressing their intention to acknowledge an autonomous Palestinian state. Sánchez later visited Norway and Ireland, where he was reassured by their respective leaders that they would collaborate on the recognition process. Israel, on the other hand, sees this move as rewarding terroristic acts, making a negotiated solution to the Gaza conflict less likely.
A decade ago, Sweden became the first European nation to recognize Palestine as a state. Critics argue that Palestine doesn't meet the necessary criteria for such a designation. Borders between Israel and Palestine, as well as the political status of East Jerusalem, remain disputed.
Israel has unequivocally rejected recognition of Palestine. "By pushing for a Palestinian state, you are rewarding murderers and rapists who believe that terror pays," stated Israel's UN ambassador Gilad Erdan during a United Nations assembly session where the status of Palestine was strengthened.
The Gaza war unfolded when the Islamist Palestinian organization Hamas launched a significant assault on Israel on October 7, 2021. Hamas, classified as a terrorist organization by the EU and the US, allegedly killed over 1,170 people, with 252 hostages being taken in Gaza, 124 of whom are currently held captive, and 37 of those are confirmed dead by the army. Israel retaliated with extensive military actions in the Gaza Strip. The Hamas-controlled Ministry of Health reported over 35,600 casualties in Gaza, but this information cannot be independently verified.
Gilad Erdan, Israel's UN ambassador, urged world leaders to consider the consequences of their actions, stating, "pushing for a Palestinian state is basically telling murderers and rapists that terror pays."
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Source: www.ntv.de
