On Tuesday, Ireland followed the steps of Spain and Norway in formally recognizing Palestine as a state, just as Israel had angrily responded after 7 months of operation in Gaza.
“We would have preferred to recognize Palestine through a peace process but we are doing this now with Spain and Norway so as not to discard the miracle of peace,” said Simon Harris, the Irish PM.
He further advised Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu “to pay attention to what the world is saying and stop that humanitarian catastrophe happening in Gaza.”
Norwegian foreign minister Espen Barth Eide called it “a special day for Norway-Palestine relations”.
“Norway has been one of the most dedicated supporters of Palestinian statehood for over three decades”, he elaborated.
Spain made it “a historic day” when spokesperson Pilar Alegria announced that her government had officially recognized Palestine.
Earlier Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez stated that such recognition was“an absolute necessity” for peace while making it clear that “we are not against anyone, least of all Israel” adding that only a future “Palestinian state living side by side with the State of Israel in Peace and Security” could be ensured by this move.
The decision signifies Spain’s full rejection of Hamas which opposes two-state solution according to him.
Ahead of his cabinet meeting, Irish Prime Minister Simon Harris called this “an important moment”, one that shows there are practical actions you can take as a country to help keep the hope…of a two-state solution alive”.
‘Reward for terrorism’
Israel did not take kindly to Norway, Spain and Ireland acknowledging Palestinian statehood; instead they accused them of rewarding terrorists forcing them to recall respective ambassadors from these European countries.
“The intention by some European countries to recognise a Palestinian state is reward for terrorism,” said Mr. Benjamin Netanyahu, Israeli Prime Minister.
“This would be terrorist state. It will try time after time to commit again what it did on October 7th – and we will not allow that to happen”, he said.
“Rewarding terrorism will not bring peace and neither will it stop us from defeating Hamas,” he said.
