Norway, Ireland, and Spain Recognise Palestine as an Independent State – Israel Recalls Ambassadors
Today, the leaders of Norway, Ireland and Spain announced that their countries will recognise a Palestinian state within days, sparking a diplomatic row with Israel. In response, Israel is recalling ambassadors from Oslo and Dublin, as Foreign Minister Katz says the announcement is a reward for terrorism, the Times of Israel reports.
According to the Israeli foreign minister, the recognition of Palestine is "an insult to the victims of 7 October" and also harms attempts to return the 128 hostages.
"The Irish-Norwegian parade of stupidity does not stop us. We are determined to achieve our goals: to restore security to our citizens, to overthrow Hamas and return the hostages," the Israeli Foreign Minister added.
Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said their countries would officially recognise on 28 May, along with Ireland, whose leader Simon Harris said he expected other countries to join the growing support for Palestinian statehood in the coming weeks.
Several European Union countries have said in recent weeks that they plan to announce recognition of a Palestinian state, arguing that a two-state solution is essential for lasting peace in the region.
"There can be no peace in the Middle East if there is no recognition," Gahr Støre said at a press conference.
In Ireland, Taoiseach Harris called the recognition "a historic and important day for Ireland and Palestine".
At the end of April, the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, said that by the end of May, several EU countries would recognise Palestine.
As of early May, the following European states recognised Palestine's independence: Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Hungary, Malta, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Sweden, and the Czech Republic.
