Ireland, Norway and Spain to formally accept Palestine as an Independent State
Norway, Ireland and Spain will officially recognise Palestine as an independent state to encourage peace in the Middle East in the coming week. This announcement has forced Israel to order its ambassadors out of these countries within a week.
On Wednesday, Norway’s Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre said this is mainly in Israel’s best interest, emphasising that the recognition will be effective May 28.
It is evident that for Støre, there can be no peace in the Middle East, for there is no recognition, as he said in Oslo.
Ireland’s Prime Minister Simon Harris and Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez made their announcements in Dublin and Madrid, respectively. The above declarations elicited applause in their respective parliaments.
“Amid a war, with tens of thousands killed and injured [in Gaza], we must keep alive the only alternative that offers a political solution for Israelis and Palestinians alike: ”Two states, living side by side, in peace and security,” Gahr Støre said. He also stressed that recognition is one of the ways to support the so-called moderate forces in the ongoing conflict.
Harris also added that they hoped other countries would also emulate the same. f“I am sure that more countries will follow and join us in taking this step in the coming weeks,” he added. Ireland’s Foreign Minister Micheal Martin said that Ireland will proceed with recognition on 28 May.
Sánchez took Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to task for threatening the two-state solution through his actions in Gaza. He expected that with this recognition, other Western countries would demand the ceasefire of the conflict.
“We believe that our recognition, and the reasons we have stated, will help other Western countries take the same action, as the more there would be strength in unity to end this ceasefire,” Sanchez said.
Harris restated that Ireland accepted Israel’s right to live in safety and peace and demanded the freedom of prisoners in Gaza. “He also wanted to make an underlying statement emphasising that Hamas is not the Palestinian people…Thus, the only solution that everyone seems to agree with is a two-state solution.
Many losses on the side of the affected parties have thus characterised the conflict. In fact, since October 7, over 5305 Israeli assaults on Gaza stripped at least 35609 persons of their lives and 79990 left injured. Hamas bore the responsibility for the attack on Israel on October 7, leaving 1 139 people dead and dozens more hostage.
These recognitions have come at a time when the international community is putting pressure on Israel on many fronts. This week, the ICC prosecutor declared that it wants an arrest warrant for Netanyahu and other leaders, and the ICJ began hearing South Africa’s challenge to prevent Israeli operations in Rafah, southern Gaza.
Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and Turkey have appreciated Norway, Ireland, and Spain’s decisions regarding the Post. France highlighted the issue’s importance but said it was premature to act on it; the White House said they prioritise the direct talks between Russia and Georgia.
While the move is seen as positive, it might not make any difference in the field as attacks by Israel continue to increase.
Israel has reacted strongly, recalling its envoys for “urgent consultations” and warning that recognising Palestine could fuel extremism. Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz said, “Today, I am sending a sharp message to Ireland and Norway: This, Israel will not allow to go over in silence.
Still, the leaders of Palestinian territories have warmly welcomed these recognitions as a sign of justice and the beginning of peaceful relations. The head of the Palestinian Liberation Organisation, Hussein al-Sheikh, and Palestinian politician Mustafa Barghouti also welcomed the decision, with the latter considering it a strong signal against the Israeli authorities’ current actions.
