Three European counties – Norway, Spain, Ireland – will accept Palestine as a state on 28 May. This decision has been welcomed by Palestinian authorities and people, who see it as a major step towards achieving their long-standing goal of statehood. However, Israel has opposed the decision, calling it a “reward for terrorism” and a threat to its security.
Norway, which has taken the lead in this initiative, has urged other countries to recognize Palestine as an independent state. Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store believes that this move can help bring peace to the region. ” The Palestinian people have a fundamental, independent right to self-determination. Both Israelis and Palestinians have a right to live in peace in their respective states. There will be no peace in the Middle East without a two-state solution. There can be no two-state solution without a Palestinian state. In other words, a Palestinian state is a prerequisite for achieving peace in the Middle East,” he said.
Spain and Ireland have also emphasized that their decision is not aimed against Israel, but rather to support peace efforts. However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has slammed the move, accusing the European countries of rewarding terrorism. “Recognizing Palestine is a reward for terrorism. 80% of Palestinians in the West Bank support the October 7 massacre. Recognizing of Palestine will not bring peace,” he said.
Meanwhile, the announcement of three European countries followed EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell’s statement on X, in which he vowed that he will “relentlessly work” to promote a common EU position on a two-state solution, and there is increasing pressure on Israel to accept Palestinian rights and end the ongoing assault on the Gaza Strip.
The announcements by the three European countries come as Israel continued its brutal offensive on the Gaza Strip since Oct. 7, 2023, despite a UN Security Council resolution calling for an immediate cease-fire in the besieged enclave.
Over 35,700 Palestinians have been killed, mostly women and children, and nearly 80,000 others injured since the start of the conflict.
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