Spain, Norway, and Ireland to recognise Palestine

In a welcome, albeit considerably belated, development, three European states have confirmed their intention to formally recognise the State of Palestine on 28 May. [1]

Contents

Consistent language used by the three leaders Why is such a step only being taken now?United States growing distant Irish support for Palestine since 1980 Norway historically played a role in peace talks Spain may support ICC with Netanyahu arrest warrant Israel’s pathetic response to the recognition Analysis Also watch Also read

A carefully co-ordinated move to announce the news was under way on Wednesday morning, with Simon Harris, Prime Minister of Ireland; Pedro Sánchez, Prime Minister of Spain; and Jonas Gahr Støre, Prime Minister of Norway delivering either public or parliamentary speeches. [2]

In its typical petulant fashion, the Zionist state responded sharply by recalling its ambassadors from each of the European countries. [1]

The Israeli Foreign Minister, Israel Katz, claimed,

“I am sending a clear message today: Israel will not be complacent against those who undermine its sovereignty and endanger its security.” [1]

Consistent language used by the three leaders

In Spain, Sánchez told the Congress of Deputies — the lower house of the Cortes Generales (Spanish Parliament),

“We are going to recognise Palestine for many reasons and we can sum that up in three words: peace, justice, and consistency.

“We have to make sure that the two-state solution is respected and there must be mutual guarantees of security.” [1]

Likewise, in Ireland’s capital, Dublin, Taoiseach Simon Harris told members of the public,

“It is a statement of unequivocal support for a two-state solution, the only credible path to peace and security for Israel, for Palestine and for their peoples.

“I’m confident that further countries will join us in taking this important step in the coming weeks.” [1]

And the Norwegian leader Støre said during a press conference,

“The Norwegian Government has decided that Norway will recognise Palestine as a state.

“In the midst of a war, with tens of thousands killed and injured, 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.” [3]

Why is such a step only being taken now?

The State of Israel was invented in 1948, after decades of British-led efforts to break up former parts of the Ottoman Empire had taken place. [4]

At the same time, Palestine was not afforded statehood, despite Palestinians inhabiting two-thirds of the region. [4]

Now in 2024, it is evident that after nearly eight months of genocide against the people of Gaza by the apartheid state, patience is running out from within its most staunch allies.

United States growing distant

Indeed, even the United States — Israel’s biggest charitable sponsor — has been gradually strengthening its language, reducing the temperature to frost-inducing levels by threatening to withhold heavy bombs and openly calling out Israel for some of its decisions. [5] [6]

Irish support for Palestine since 1980

On the contrary, In Ireland — arguably one of the strongest allies of Palestine within Europe — the mood has consistently been one that has backed Palestinian recognition and sovereignty.

In an excellent recent result for the BDS (Boycott, Divestment, & Sanctions) movement, a student encampment at the country’s oldest and most prestigious university, Trinity College Dublin, secured divestment from all Israeli firms connected to the illegal occupation of Palestine. [7]

Norway historically played a role in peace talks

The Nordic state was the first of the trio to announce its decision to recognise the State of Palestine.

While it is not as strong of a supporter of Palestine in the international sphere as Ireland, it has held prominent roles in diplomacy in the past few decades.

The Oslo Accords — the first of which was signed in 1993 — is named after Norway took on the role of mediator between the PLO (Palestine Liberation Organization) and Israel. [8]

Spain may support ICC with Netanyahu arrest warrant

While Sweden became the first long-term European Union member state to recognise the State of Palestine back in 2014, Spain had reportedly been assessing the move for at least a decade. [9]

In particularly strong language used by the Prime Minister, the war criminal Netanyahu was called out on Wednesday for his role as architect of the countless crimes against humanity in Gaza.

Sánchez said,

“Prime Minister Netanyahu is still turning a blind eye and bombing hospitals, schools, homes.

“He is still using hunger, cold, and terror to punish more than a million innocent boys and girls — and things have gone so far that prosecutors at the International Criminal Court have this week sought his arrest for war crimes.” [1]

Moreover, on the day of the announcement, Deputy Prime Minister Yolanda Díaz said that the country should co-operate with the ICC on the point of the Netanyahu arrest warrant. [10]

In a statement to the press, she said,

“It is a step that we have to encourage and accompany together with other countries so that, at last, the barbarity ceases.” [10]

Israel’s pathetic response to the recognition

While the recognition of Palestine is encouraging to supporters of the cause, the Zionist regime’s desperate response is also worth a mention.

Along with Katz’s furious decision to recall representatives in all three European countries, his fellow “extremist” and colleague, Bezalel Smotrich, has claimed he will cease the transfer of tax revenues to the Palestinian Authority (PA) due to its:

“…pursuit of unilateral recognition as a nation and within the framework of bilateral agreements with several countries.” [1]

Such double standards when it comes to recognition of Palestine makes it clear that the Zionist entity’s leaders only desire for there to exist an Israeli state.

In the minds of these despots, there is simply no place for Palestine to exist whatsoever. Spain, Ireland, and Norway’s bold steps to recognise Palestine have only reiterated this point.

Analysis

ANALYSIS

Dr. Salman Butt

Head of Islamic Thought

While mere recognition of the Palestinian state is a pitifully low moral bar, it is nonetheless welcome news whenever more and more states defy the racist dehumanisation of Palestinians.

Zionists are rightfully upset because one of the many reasons 'Israel' is not a legitimate country within the current international system is its deliberate constitutional and territorial vagueness; it incessantly refuses to declare its borders and pressures its Western motherlands to veto anything that would stand in the way of the imperial goal of 'Greater Israel'.

As many analysts say, with Israel 'every accusation is a confession', and their outrage at 'terrorism' being 'rewarded' by state recognition is a shining case study of this.

It is a matter of fact that the so-called 'Jewish State' was founded upon a formidable litany of terrorism and political violence — including against British officials — in mandatory Palestine. I suppose that does make them experts on 'terrorism'.