Political analysts unanimously agreed that the recognition of the State of Palestine by three European countries would not have happened without the steadfastness and resistance of the Palestinian people, and some described it as a fifth tsunami wave that has struck Israel since the seventh of last October.
According to the Secretary-General of the Palestinian National Initiative, Dr. Mustafa Barghouti, the recognition of Palestine by Norway, Spain and Ireland represents a reflection of what is happening in the global street, and its value lies in the fact that the Palestinian lands are lands under occupation, and any Israeli measures in them, such as annexing lands in Jerusalem and the West Bank, have no value.
Barghouti added – during his talk on the program “Gaza… What Next?” – that recognition gives a morale boost to the Palestinian people, and puts pressure on the rest of European countries such as France and Germany to recognize Palestine, while the recognition has driven Israel crazy because it is besieging the fascist element in it.
He expressed his hope to increase international pressure to stop the war of extermination in Gaza, describing the United States’ position on recognizing a Palestinian state as hypocritical, because it realizes that Israel refuses to sit at the negotiating table.
He expected the world to move towards complete international polarization in which Israel and America would be on one side, pointing out that any different American statements were a cover for Washington’s true position, citing its support for Israel’s military operation in Rafah, south of the Gaza Strip.
Barghouti considered the European recognition a second blow in the face of Israel within 48 hours, after the blow to the International Criminal Court represented by the request to issue arrest warrants against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his Defense Minister Yoav Galant.
He stressed the need to combine Palestinian steadfastness on the ground and the mobilization of popular international solidarity, expressing his belief that the next blow to Israel will be represented by a major and sweeping escalation in the boycott movement and the imposition of sanctions against Israel.
“Fifth tsunami”
In turn, Dr. Raed Nairat, professor of political science at the Palestinian An-Najah University, said that European recognition represents a new tsunami wave against Israel since October 7, after the demonstrations of international universities, the decision of the United Nations General Assembly, and the prosecution in the International Courts of Justice and Criminal Courts.
There are three important dimensions to this recognition – according to Nairat – the first is Norway, which led the peace process between the Palestinians and the Israelis and its recognition is considered a cornerstone, and the step indicates the complete failure of Israeli policy.
The recognition also expresses confusion on the part of the Israeli political leadership when Tel Aviv says that it will impose sanctions on countries that recognize Palestine, which is completely contrary to reality.
“domino effect”
For his part, Irish Member of Parliament Richard Boyd Barrett hopes that recognition will add pressure on European governments to abandon their immoral support for Israel, arming it and giving it economic aid and other forms of support, because of its policy of apartheid and ethnic cleansing.
According to Barrett, the recognition occurred because of the resistance of the Palestinian people against the occupation, and because of popular anger and protests in Ireland and European countries demanding support for the Palestinians.
He stressed the need for Ireland and European countries to impose sanctions on Israel, despite his acknowledgment that Tel Aviv would retaliate, because it is capable of committing atrocities, noting the need for the sanctions to be real and not symbolic, such as cutting off trade and diplomatic relations.
The Irish Parliament expected that other European countries would join Norway, Spain and Ireland, such as Malta, Slovenia and Cyprus, in light of increasing popular pressure, expressing its hope that the effect of recognition would be like a domino and that it would be accompanied by sanctions and measures against Israel to isolate it economically, politically and diplomatically and hold it accountable for the crimes of genocide.
He also predicted the birth of a great movement across the world whose pressure will increase, such as the anti-Vietnam War movement and the national movement against apartheid in South Africa, stressing that Israel’s supporters feel increasing pressure and isolation due to the legendary resistance of the Palestinian people and popular pressure.