The creation of a Palestinian state is “the only path to peace” in the Middle East, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said as his country announced its official recognition, alongside Norway and Ireland.
Sanchez spoke Tuesday ahead of a cabinet vote that approved the previously announced plan to recognize a Palestinian state. Norway’s recognition also took effect, while Ireland also followed suit.
Spanish government spokesperson Pilar Alegria announced that the cabinet had “adopted an important decision to recognize a Palestinian state,” which had “one goal: to help Israelis and Palestinians achieve peace.”
The Spanish Prime Minister called the decision “a matter of historic justice”.
“The only path to peace is the creation of a Palestinian state, living alongside the State of Israel,” he said.
“The State of Palestine must be viable with the West Bank and Gaza connected by a corridor and with East Jerusalem as its capital. »
Madrid will not recognize any changes to the pre-1967 borders unless both sides agree to them, he said. The occupied West Bank, East Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip were part of the territory captured by Israel in 1967 during the Arab-Israeli War.
“Incitement to genocide”
The leaders of Spain, Ireland, Malta and Slovenia said in March they were considering recognizing a Palestinian state as “a positive contribution” to ending the war in Gaza.
As Oslo’s recognition took effect, Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide said in a statement: “For more than 30 years, Norway has been one of the strongest supporters of a Palestinian state. Today, when Norway officially recognizes Palestine as a state, it marks an important milestone in Norwegian-Palestinian relations.
The Irish cabinet approved the official recognition shortly after the Palestinian flag was raised in Dublin in front of the Irish parliament building.
“This is an important moment and I think it sends a signal to the world that there are practical actions you can take as a country to help keep alive the hope and destination of a two-way solution States at a time when others are unfortunately trying to bomb it into oblivion,” said Irish Prime Minister Simon Harris.
Malta and Slovenia have hinted that they will also take the same step, but not immediately.
Harris urged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to “listen to the world and end the humanitarian catastrophe we are witnessing in Gaza.”
However, these announcements only aroused Israel’s fury, widening its disagreements with some European Union states over the continuation of the war in Gaza.
Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz accused Spaniard Sanchez of being a “partner in incitement” to Jewish “genocide”.
Commenting on after his call for a free Palestine “from the river to the sea”. .
Spain, Ireland and Norway announced plans last week to formally recognize Palestine, prompting Israel to recall its ambassadors from the three countries.
Palestine has already been recognized by 144 other countries.
Among the 27 EU members, Sweden, Cyprus, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Poland, Slovakia, Romania and Bulgaria have recognized a Palestinian state.
Britain and Australia said they were considering recognition, France said now was not the time while Germany joined in with Israel’s staunchest ally, the United States , to reject a unilateral approach, insisting that a two-state solution can only be achieved through dialogue. .
