It has been announced that Spain, Ireland and Norway will recognize a Palestinian state on May 28. This comes at a time of worldwide condemnation over the loss of life among noncombatants as well as an acute humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip caused by Israel’s aggression.
Both EU members, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic took one step towards recognizing Palestine as a country that can be seen as one more step forward for Europe but it might further international isolation of Israel and ease subsequent moves in the UN.
There are currently seven EU member states out of twenty-seven that formally acknowledge Palestine as a state. At least five of them are countries from Eastern European region called Warsaw bloc who supported recognition in 1988, like also Cyprus when it was applying to join the union and then Sweden came up with its stand on this matter last year.
The present Czech Republic maintains that even though its predecessor, Czechoslovakia recognized Palestine in 1988 before breaking up into two independent republics, the former Czechoslovakia should not be confused with modern day Czech Republic. On top of this, after declaring independence in early nineties those nations affirmed their recognition while Slovakia asserts its sovereignty since 1992/93 when they were granted independence hence there is fully functional embassy for Palestine situated in Bratislava since 2006 according to Foreign Ministry statement.
Malta and Slovenia say they might do so too but not right now
About 140 out of nearly 190 countries represented at UN have already accepted Palestine as an independent state.
What follows examines why these new pronouncements by Europe may matter or count?
In any case Arabs rejected United Nations’ partition plan (1947) which had proposed establishment Jewish nation side by side with Arab State: at best these would have ceded less than half of territory where majority Palestinians constituted about two thirds population.
This war resulted in more land being captured by Israeli forces; Jordan obtained West Bank and East Jerusalem while Egypt took over Gaza Strip.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) attack in 1967 resulted in the country gaining full control of all three territories but negotiations for peace have not been able to continue since then.
Although the US, UK and other Western powers have supported the idea of an independent Palestine co-existing with Israel, regarded as Middle East’s most complex standoff, they insist that Palestinian statehood should only follow a negotiated settlement. There has been no meaningful negotiation since 2009.
However, it is significant for Palestinians because it will improve their global position even if neither EU countries nor Norway intend to recognize any existing state as such but only an emerging one. Also, this move will give more emphasis on Middle East problem before European Parliament election days between June six and nine.
While Hamas continues to fight Israel in Gaza and international pressure grows against Tel Aviv, United Nations General Assembly approved by overwhelming majority on May 11th the granting “of rights and privileges” to Palestine according to its demand for a vote on full voting membership. As of now, it has observer status at the UN.
In March this year leaders of Spain, Ireland Malta and Slovenia announced that they were contemplating recognizing Palestine as a country in order to end war which they termed as “a positive contribution.”
“This does not mean anything bad against anyone or Israelis,” Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said on Wednesday. “It’s rather about justice morality peace.”
Espen Barth Eide, the Foreign Minister of Norway, told The Associated Press that his country has backed a Palestinian statehood for years but recognition “is a card that you can play once.”
“Recognition used to be something you would get at the end,” he said. “Now we know it should come as encouragement, as reinforcement of an effort.”
Some dozens of countries have recognized a Palestinian state but none of the major Western powers have done so and it is not clear how much difference three countries may make with this move.
However, their recognition will be a major achievement for Palestinians who feel that it finally confirms the legitimacy of their struggle. Norway announced its intention to upgrade its representative’s office to Palestine into an embassy but there was no information on what Spain and Ireland will do.
In fact, little would change shortly on the ground. Peace talks are frozen; Israel’s hardline government persists in opposing Palestinian independence.
Israel which has always been against any international legitimization of Palestinians reacted immediately yesterday by summoning back its ambassadors from Ireland, Norway and Spain.
In a video message Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that “the intention of several European countries to recognize a Palestinian state is a reward for terrorism.”
He said “80% of Palestinians in Judea and Samaria (West Bank) supported terrible October 7th massacre. This evil must not be given territory. This is going to be terrorist country”. He was referring to Hamas-led Oct. 7th assault on Southern Israel killing around1200 persons and leading to more than 250 abductions.
Steps like those on Wednesday by these three European nations will harden Palestinian positions and undermine negotiations, according to Israel which insists all issues must be resolved through talks.
Such decisions often prompt retaliatory measures by Israeli authorities including summoning foreign envoys or punitive actions against the cash-strapped PA such as freezing tax deductions.
More than two-thirds (140) UN members have already acknowledged a Palestinian state.
However, some of the major powers have now said their position may be evolving in light of concerns raised over the consequences of Israel’s offensive in Gaza which has killed more than 35,000 Gazans according to the Ministry’s Health. The ministry counts noncombatants and fighters together.
British Foreign Secretary David Cameron said as long as Hamas was in control of Gaza there would be no recognition of a Palestinian state; but if Israeli negotiations were ongoing with Palestinian leaders, it might eventually change its mind.
Nevertheless France signaled that it is not yet ready to join other states in recognizing Palestine although it does not object to this idea in principle. French Foreign Minister Stéphane Séjourné explained that he believed “useful” recognition should help move toward two states and suggested that doing so now wouldn’t really serve that goal during his closed-door meeting with Israeli counterpart on Wednesday.
In contrast, Germany will currently not recognize Palestine as an independent state.
Germany desires a two-state solution between Israel and Palestine that will result in Palestine becoming an independent state, but admits it is a long way off.
