Photo Credit: Associated Press
In a diplomatic move causing tensions with Israel, the nations of Ireland, Norway and Spain have officially recognized Palestinian statehood. The announcements came amid heightened violence between Israelis and Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza.
Ireland's decision was announced by its Foreign Minister Micheál Martin, who stated, "The situation in the Palestinian territory is unacceptable from a human rights, political, humanitarian and economic perspective." He expressed hope the move would help achieve "a negotiated two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict."
Norway's Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre said recognizing Palestine as a state was a key step to "resolving the protracted Israeli-Palestinian conflict...based on UN resolutions and international law." Spain issued a briefer statement acknowledging Palestinian statehood.
The Palestinian Authority welcomed the recognitions as "important steps" that could strengthen efforts to establish an independent Palestinian state in the West Bank, Gaza Strip and East Jerusalem, territories Israel captured in the 1967 Middle East war.
Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad al-Maliki stated, "We highly value this principled position...that recognizes the State of Palestine on the 1967 borders and moves to integrate the Palestinian approach on the international stage."
However, Israel's government decried the European moves, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu criticizing what he called "distorted steps that only push peace further away." Netanyahu argued such recognitions encourage Palestinian recalcitrance in peace negotiations over borders and other complex issues.
An Israeli Foreign Ministry statement said "only the establishment of a Palestinian state as the nation-state of the Palestinian people alongside the State of Israel as part of a negotiated peace agreement will provide a true and lasting solution."
The gestures by Ireland, Norway and Spain follow a long line of nations extending recognition to a Palestinian state, though opinion differs on the effect. Supporters view it as legitimizing Palestinian aspirations for sovereignty. Critics say it allows Palestinians to harden positions and make unilateral moves to circumvent negotiations with Israel.
Khaled Elgindy, a senior fellow at the Middle East Institute think tank, stated "Symbolic recognitions will likely have a limited impact without any tangible follow-up...But they keep the idea of a negotiated two-state solution alive."
For now, deep divisions remain over the vision, borders and requirements for an achievable Palestinian state coexisting alongside Israel. Still, the spate of new European acknowledgements of Palestinian statehood are seen by many as reaffirming international support and applying pressure for revived peace efforts.
As Columbia University political scientist Rashid Khalidi put it, "These recognitions represent a modest countervailing force against the juggernaut of pro-Israel forces who have systematically closed off avenues to Palestinian statehood.
