Spain, Ireland, and Norway now consider Palestine as an official state.
Three countries - Ireland, Spain, and Norway - have officially recognized a Palestinian state. According to the Spanish government spokesperson, Pilar Alegria, this is a "significant decision," while Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide calls it a "special day." Irish Prime Minister Simon Harris considers it a "significant moment" in history.
These countries claim that recognizing a Palestinian state will help facilitate peace between Israelis and Palestinians. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez asserts he is not against Israel, but that this is a "necessary condition" for achieving peace. Eide has been an advocate for a Palestinian state for over three decades.
Ireland's recognition of a Palestinian state as a "sovereign and independent state" will be accompanied by the sending of an Irish ambassador to Ramallah in the West Bank. Harris believes that this move will keep the hope of a two-state solution alive. Apparently, Spain, Norway, and Ireland planned to announce their recognition of a Palestinian state last Tuesday.
This development marks a shift from the long-standing Western policy of only recognizing a Palestinian state as part of a peace deal with Israel. Germany still upholds this approach. Now, 145 out of 193 UN member states recognize a Palestinian state. This comes amid a war between Israel and the terrorist organization Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Israel criticizes these nations for rewarding terrorism.
Israeli minister criticizes
Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz accused Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez of inciting murder and war crimes. Katz took to Twitter, writing: "Khamenei, Sinwar, and Díaz call for the destruction of the State of Israel and the establishment of a Palestinian Islamic terrorist state from the river to the sea."
Sánchez retorted that if Katz fails to dismiss his deputy and recognize a Palestinian state, he is also involved in these crimes. Diaz had said in a video, "Palestine will be free from the river to the sea," which is a controversial statement as it expresses the Palestinian claim of sovereignty and denies Israel's right to exist from a Jewish perspective. This statement is often interpreted as a call for the expulsion or murder of Jews in the State of Israel.
Spain has been highly critical of Israel's military actions in Gaza. The left-wing government in Madrid has already suspended all weapons exports to Israel following the Hamas attack on Israel and the start of Israeli military operations in Gaza.
The diplomatic conflict between Spain and Israel escalated further on Friday when Israel imposed restrictions on the role of Spanish diplomats in the country. The Spanish embassy in Tel Aviv and the consulate general in East Jerusalem will no longer be able to offer their services to Palestinians from the West Bank.
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Source: www.ntv.de
