Norway, Ireland, and Spain announced on Wednesday their decision to recognize Palestine as a state, prompting an immediate response from Israel, which recalled its envoys from these countries.
Ireland’s leader stated that the country would recognize Palestine, though no specific timeline was provided. In contrast, Norway and Spain set a clear date, with recognition effective from May 28.
Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store made the announcement in Oslo, Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez in Madrid, and Irish Prime Minister Simon Harris in Dublin.
Israel responded swiftly, with Foreign Minister Israel Katz declaring that Israel would not remain silent on this issue, recalling envoys from Ireland and Norway for urgent consultations. Katz also indicated plans to recall the Israeli ambassador to Spain.
The Israeli foreign ministry posted a video message on social media warning that recognizing a Palestinian state could lead to increased instability and extremism, suggesting that such recognition could be manipulated by groups like Iran and Hamas.
Israel criticized the recognition as a reward for terrorism, arguing it diminishes the chances of a negotiated resolution to the conflict that escalated on October 7, when Hamas militants attacked southern Israel.
Despite Israel’s objections, Norway, which has historically been involved in Middle East diplomacy and hosted the Oslo Accords, believes recognition is necessary to support moderate voices amid the ongoing Gaza conflict. Prime Minister Store emphasized the importance of maintaining the possibility of a two-state solution as a political resolution for both Israelis and Palestinians.
Spain’s Sanchez announced that Spain’s cabinet would officially recognize Palestine on May 28, criticizing Israeli policies in Gaza for undermining the two-state solution. Ireland’s Harris called it a historic day for both Ireland and Palestine.
For decades, the recognition of a Palestinian state has been considered a final goal of the peace process between Palestinians and Israelis. While the United States and most Western European countries have expressed willingness to recognize Palestinian statehood eventually, they have conditioned this on resolving key issues such as borders and the status of Jerusalem.
The recent conflict, sparked by Hamas’s October 7 attacks and Israel’s subsequent military response, has led diplomats to reconsider previously contentious ideas. Sweden became the first EU member in Western Europe to recognize Palestinian statehood in 2014, joining six other European countries.
The October 7 attack by Hamas resulted in over 1,170 deaths, mostly civilians, and led to 252 hostages being taken. Israel’s counteroffensive has since resulted in at least 35,647 deaths in Gaza, predominantly civilians, according to Gaza’s health ministry.
