Ireland, Spain, Norway Recognize Palestinian State; Israel Recalls Ambassadors by James Lynch
Israel is recalling its ambassadors from Ireland, Spain, and Norway after the three European nations announced that they would formally recognize a Palestinian state.
Ireland, Spain, and Norway announced on Wednesday they will be formally recognizing a Palestinian state beginning next Monday, and each nation called for a cease-fire to end the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas.
“I am sending a clear message today: Israel will not be complacent against those who undermine its sovereignty and endanger its security,” Israeli foreign minister Israel Katz said upon its decision to recall the ambassadors.
The countries’ ambassadors in Israel will be subject to “reprimand talks” where they will be shown footage of the atrocities Hamas committed against innocent civilians on October 7.
“Recognizing a Palestinian state will lead to more terrorism, instability in the region and jeopardize any prospects for peace,” the Israel foreign ministry said on X. “Don’t be a pawn in the hands of Hamas.”
The Palestinian Authority and Hamas celebrated the decision from Ireland, Spain, and Norway to recognize a Palestinian state, although the leaders of each country distanced themselves from Hamas.
“This is an investment in the only solution that can bring lasting peace in the Middle East,” Norwegian prime minister Jonas Gahr Støre said, referring to a two-state solution.
“We hope that our recognition and our reasons contribute to other western countries to follow this path, because the more we are, the more strength we will have to impose a ceasefire, to achieve the release of the hostages held by Hamas, to relaunch the political process that can lead to a peace agreement,” Spanish prime minister Pedro Sanchez said to Spain’s lower legislative chamber.
“Today, we state clearly our unambiguous support for the equal right to security, dignity, and self-determination for the Palestinian and Israeli peoples,” said Irish foreign minister Micheál Martin. Irish prime minister Simon Harris echoed Martin’s comments.
“Hamas is not the Palestinian people,” Harris said.
A poll taken earlier this year found over 70 percent of Palestinian people supported Hamas’s civilian massacre on October 7.
The International Criminal Court on Monday issued arrest warrants for Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Hamas leaders over Israel’s war against Hamas and the atrocities committed on October 7.
President Joe Biden and Secretary of State Antony Blinken quickly condemned the court’s decision and emphasized there is no equivalence between the two sides.
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