International

Ireland, Norway, Spain recognise Palestine as state, Israel recalls envoys.

Norway, Ireland, and Spain have announced their formal recognition of Palestine as a state on May 28, 2024. This move has prompted Israel to immediately recall its envoys to Ireland and Norway for “urgent consultations” and threatens to withdraw the Israeli ambassador from Spain. The recognition by these three European countries comes as a growing number of nations are publicly considering recognizing Palestine as a state, particularly in Europe.

The recognition of Palestine as a state by Norway, Ireland, and Spain is seen as a significant step towards supporting a two-state solution and fostering peace in the Middle East. These countries have emphasized that peace can only be achieved through a two-state solution, and the existence of a Palestinian state is crucial for this. They believe that recognizing Palestine as a state will contribute to peace and reconciliation in the region.

The recognition of Palestine as a state has been a topic of discussion for many years. In 2011, despite Palestine’s failure to join the United Nations as a full member, UNESCO granted the Palestinians full membership in the UN cultural agency, leading the US to defund the body. In 2012, the UN General Assembly voted in favor of changing Palestine’s status to a “nonmember observer state”. In 2015, the International Criminal Court recognized Palestine as a party. Sweden became the first country in Western Europe to recognize Palestine in 2014.

In addition to Norway, Ireland, and Spain, nine other European countries already recognize Palestine as a state. This month, 143 out of 193 members of the United Nations General Assembly voted in favor of Palestine joining the UN, a privilege reserved for states. However, it is important to note that not all countries recognize Palestine as a state. The United States, Canada, Australia, Japan, South Korea, and many Western European states do not recognize Palestine as a state.

The recognition of Palestine as a state by Norway, Ireland, and Spain is a significant development in the ongoing efforts to support a two-state solution and promote peace in the Middle East. While this move has drawn criticism from Israel, it reflects a growing trend among European nations to consider recognizing Palestine as a state. The recognition of Palestine by these countries adds to the list of nations that already recognize Palestine as a state and highlights the ongoing international discussions surrounding this issue.