< p>Spain, Ireland and Norway formally recognized the State of Palestine despite the anger of Israel, which feels increasingly isolated after seven months of conflict in the Gaza Strip. The three countries expressed hope that their decision would speed up a ceasefire agreement in the war between Israel and "Hamas" in Gaza, which entered its eighth month. Here are some highlights related to Spain, Ireland and Norway's decision.
What Ireland, Norway and Spain announced
The three countries recognize a Palestinian state with pre-1967 borders and Jerusalem as the capital of both Israel and Palestine. At the same time, however, they take into account that these limits may be changed by possible talks that lead to a final agreement.
"This is a historic decision that has a single goal: for Israelis and Palestinians to live in peace,", Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said in a televised address before his government meeting to formally approve the decision.
Ireland has announced that its representation in the West Bank will now have the status of a full-fledged embassy, which the Palestinian mission in Ireland will receive. Irish Prime Minister Simon Harris also stressed that recognizing a Palestinian state does not diminish Ireland's belief in Israel's right to exist in peace and security, a position he says is unequivocal.
Who else recognizes Palestine
144 of the 193 UN member states recognize a Palestinian state, including most countries in the Global South, Russia, China and India. However, only a few countries of the 27 member countries of the European Union - mostly from the former socialist bloc, as well as Sweden and Cyprus, have done so*.
Other countries have said they are considering following suit, including Britain, Australia, Malta and Slovenia.
Why this is important
The decision to recognize a Palestinian state by three major European countries is more symbolic, but by taking it Israel seems increasingly isolated on the international stage.
This decision would prove even more important if - as the three countries hope - other countries also recognize the State of Palestine. Alon Liel, former director-general of Israel's foreign ministry, says it would also have an impact on public opinion in Israel, as the three countries are seen as role models.
How Israel and the Palestinians react
Israel reacted angrily and immediately recalled the ambassadors from the three countries, while at the same time summoning the ambassadors of those countries to Israel. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said such recognition was in effect a reward for the violence shown by Gaza's ruling Palestinian group Hamas, which on October 7 attacked Israel from the Strip.
The war in Gaza was sparked on October 7, when fighters of "Hamas" invaded Israel's southern border and carried out the bloodiest attack in the 75-year history of the Israeli state.
"Sanchez, when you /.../ recognize a Palestinian state, you are complicit in inciting genocide against the Jews and in war crimes,", wrote today on the social platform "X" the Israeli Minister of Foreign Affairs Israel Katz.
Netanyahu has repeatedly rejected the concept of "two states for the two peoples", saying that recognition would neither bring peace nor shake his determination to wipe out "Hamas".
The Palestinian Authority, which partially rules the West Bank, and "Hamas" welcomed the decision of Spain, Norway and Ireland.
What the US says
The US supports a "two states for two peoples" solution, but says it is something that can be achieved through direct dialogue between the two sides of the conflict, not through unilateral recognition of a Palestinian state by other nations. Last month, the US vetoed a UN resolution recognizing a Palestinian state, blocking Palestine's full membership in a Security Council vote.
What is the position of other European countries
For months, Spain, Norway and Ireland have been lobbying European Union countries to join them in recognizing a Palestinian state, but the issue is still divisive among some of the bloc's biggest countries.
France announced that the Palestinian state is not "taboo" for Paris, but now is not the time for that. Germany has emphasized that its long-term goal is to achieve a solution with "two states for two peoples", but like the US, it has announced that this can only be done through dialogue.
Translation from English: Ivo Tasev, BTA
* Nine out of a total of 27 member states of the European Union recognize the State of Palestine. Eight of them did so before joining the bloc - even after Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat declared Palestine an independent state on November 15, 1988 - Malta, Cyprus, the Czech Republic and Slovakia (until 1993 Czechoslovakia), Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria and Poland. They were followed in 2014 by Sweden, which became the first country to recognize Palestine after joining the EU