Norway, Ireland and Spain yesterday recognized a Palestinian state in a historic move that drew condemnation from Israel and jubilation from the Palestinians.
Israel ordered back its ambassadors from Norway and Ireland.
It was a lightning cascade of announcements. First Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store said that “there cannot be peace in the Middle East if there is no recognition.”
Photo: EPA-EFE
The Scandinavian country is to officially recognize a Palestinian state as of Tuesday next week, Gahr Store said.
“By recognizing a Palestinian state, Norway supports the Arab peace plan,” he said.
Several EU countries have in the past weeks indicated that they plan to make the recognition, arguing a two-state solution is essential for lasting peace in the region.
Norway, which is not a member of the EU, but mirrors its moves, has been an ardent supporter of a two-state solution between Israel and the Palestinians.
“The terror has been committed by Hamas and militant groups who are not supporters of a two-state solution and the state of Israel,” the Norwegian government leader said. “Palestine has a fundamental right to an independent state.”
The move comes as Israeli forces have led assaults on the northern and southern edges of the Gaza Strip this month, causing a new exodus of hundreds of thousands of people, and sharply restricted the flow of aid, raising the risk of famine.
Norway “will therefore regard Palestine as an independent state with all the rights and obligations that entails,” Gahr Store said.
The development comes more than 30 years after the first Oslo agreement was signed in 1993. Since then, “the Palestinians have taken important steps towards a two-state solution,” the Norwegian government said.
The World Bank in 2011 determined that a Palestinian state had met key criteria to function as a state, that national institutions have been built up to provide the population with important services, it said.
Also yesterday, Irish Prime Minister Simon Harris made his announcement, saying that it was a move coordinated with Spain and Norway and “an historic and important day for Ireland and for Palestine.”
The move was intended to help move the Israeli-Palestinian conflict to resolution through a two-state solution, Harris said.
The Irish prime minister said he thinks other countries would join Norway, Spain and Ireland in recognizing a Palestinian state “in the weeks ahead.”
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said that his country is also to recognize a Palestinian state on Tuesday next week. Sanchez yesterday made the expected announcement to the Spanish parliament.
The fast-moving developments drew Israel’s condemnation. Israeli Minister of Foreign Affairs Israel Katz ordered Israel’s ambassadors from Ireland and Norway to immediately return to Israel and threatened to recall the ambassador to Spain if the country takes a similar position.
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