BARCELONA, Spain (AP) 鈥� Spain, Norway and Ireland formally recognized a Palestinian state on Tuesday in a coordinated effort by the three western European nations to add international pressure on Israel to soften its devastating response to last year鈥檚 Hamas-led attack. Tel Aviv slammed the diplomatic move that will have no immediate impact on its grinding war in Gaza.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro S谩nchez told his nation in a televised address from Madrid that 鈥渢his is a historic decision that has a single goal, and that is to help Israelis and Palestinians achieve peace."
Israel鈥檚 Foreign Minister Israel Katz quickly lashed out at Spain on X, saying S谩nchez's government was 鈥溞±妒悠� complicit in inciting genocide against Jews and war crimes.鈥�
Ireland and Norway soon joined Spain in formalizing a decision they had jointly announced the previous week.
The Palestinian flag was raised in Dublin outside Leinster House, the seat of the Irish parliament.
鈥淭his is an important moment and I think it sends a signal to the world that there are practical actions you can take as a country to help keep the hope and destination of a two-state solution alive at a time when others are trying to sadly bomb it into oblivion,鈥� Irish Prime Minister Simon Harris said before his Cabinet meets to formally sign off on the decision.
Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide said in a statement that 鈥渇or more than 30 years, Norway has been one of the strongest advocates for a Palestinian state. Today, when Norway officially recognizes Palestine as a state, is a milestone in the relationship between Norway and Palestine.鈥�
While some 140 countries have recognized a Palestinian state 鈥� more than two-thirds of the United Nations 鈥� none of the major Western powers has done so. Still, the adherence of three European countries to the group represents in the world of public opinion, and will likely put pressure on European Union heavyweights France and Germany to rethink their position.
Previously only seven member of the 27-nation EU officially recognized a Palestinian state. Five of them are former East bloc countries who announced recognition in 1988, as did Cyprus, before joining the EU. Sweden鈥檚 recognition came in 2014.
Relations between the with the diplomatic recognitions by two EU members, and Madrid insisting on Monday that the EU should take measures against Israel for its continued deadly attacks in southern Gaza鈥檚 city of Rafah.
After Monday鈥檚 meeting of EU foreign ministers, Irish Foreign Minister Miche谩l Martin said 鈥渇or the first time at an EU meeting, in a real way, I have seen a significant discussion on sanctions鈥� for Israel.
Harris, the Irish leader, insisted Tuesday the EU should consider economic sanctions for Israel, saying 鈥淓urope could be doing a hell of a lot more."
Norway, which is not an EU member but often aligns its foreign policy with the bloc, handed diplomatic papers to the Palestinian government over the weekend ahead of its formal recognition.
At the same time, the EU鈥檚 foreign policy chief Josep Borrell threw his weight behind the International Criminal Court, whose prosecutor is against Israeli Prime Minister and others, including leaders of the Hamas militant group.
The formal declaration and resulting diplomatic dispute come over seven months into an assault waged by Israel following the Oct. 7 Hamas-led attack in which militants stormed across the Gaza border into Israel, killing 1,200 people and taking some 250 hostage. Israel鈥檚 air and land attacks have killed , which does not distinguish between combatants and civilians.
Last week's joint announcement by Spain, Ireland and Norway triggered an angry response from Israeli authorities, which summoned the countries鈥� ambassadors in Tel Aviv to the Foreign Ministry, where they were filmed while 小蓝视频 shown videos of the Oct. 7 Hamas attack and abductions.
Slovenia鈥檚 Prime Minister Robert Golob said Monday his government will decide on the recognition of a Palestinian state on Thursday and forward its decision to parliament for final approval.
The United States and Britain, among others, back the idea of an independent Palestinian state alongside Israel but say it should come as part of a negotiated settlement. Netanyahu鈥檚 government says the conflict can only be resolved through direct negotiations.
In his speech on Tuesday, S谩nchez said that the recognition of a Palestinian state was 鈥渁 decision that we do not adopt against anyone, least of all against Israel, a friendly people whom we respect, whom we appreciate and with whom we want to have the best possible relationship.鈥�
The Socialist leader has spent months touring European and Middle Eastern countries, including stops in Oslo and Dublin, to garner support for the recognition of a Palestinian state. He called for a permanent cease-fire, for stepping up humanitarian aid into Gaza and for the release of hostages still held by Hamas.
Spain鈥檚 foreign minister, Jos茅 Manuel Albares, will meet with the Arab Contact Group in Spain鈥檚 capital on Wednesday, including Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa, Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, and the foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Jordan.
S谩nchez said that his intention was to back the beleaguered Palestinian Authority, which lost effective political control of Gaza to Hamas. He laid out his vision for a state ruled by the Palestinian Authority that must connect the West Bank and Gaza via a corridor with east Jerusalem as its capital.
The Western-backed Palestinian Authority administers parts of the Israeli-occupied West Bank, cooperates with Israel on security matters and favors a negotiated two-state solution. Its forces were driven out of Gaza by Hamas when the militants seized power there in 2007.
The Palestinians have long sought an independent state in Gaza, the West Bank and east Jerusalem, territories Israel captured in the 1967 Mideast war. The idea of a land corridor linking Gaza and the West Bank through Israel was discussed in previous rounds of peace talks, but no serious or substantive peace negotiations have been held in over 15 years.
鈥淲e will not recognize changes in the 1967 border lines other than those agreed to by the parties,鈥� S谩nchez added.
鈥淔urthermore, this decision reflects our absolute rejection of Hamas, a terrorist organization who is against the two-state solution,鈥� S谩nchez said. 鈥淔rom the outset, Spain has strongly condemned the terrorist attacks of Oct. 7. This clear condemnation is the resounding expression of our steadfast commitment in the fight against terrorism. I would like to underline that starting tomorrow we would focus all our efforts to implement the two state solution and make it a reality.鈥�
Ireland鈥檚 government said that it will appoint an ambassador and create a full embassy in Ramallah in the West Bank.
Israel, which rejects the possibility of Palestinian statehood, recalled its ambassadors to Ireland, Norway and Spain after they announced the decision last week.
Norway鈥檚 Barth Eide added Tuesday that 鈥渋t is regrettable that the Israeli government shows no signs of engaging constructively.鈥�
鈥淭he recognition is a strong expression of support for moderate forces in both countries,鈥� Norway鈥檚 top diplomat said.
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Associated Press writers Melanie Lidman in Tel Aviv, Israel, Jill Lawless in London, Jan M. Olsen in Copenhagen, Denmark and Raf Casert in Brussels contributed to this report.
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Joseph Wilson, The Associated Press
