Explained: Spain, Ireland and Norway formally recognise Palestinian statehood. Here’s why it matters

Earlier this week, Spain, Norway and Ireland formally recognised Palestinian statehood after a coordinated effort by the three Western European nations in what they said was an attempt to bring the focus back to finding a political solution amid the ongoing war between Israel and Palestinian militant group Hamas. 

145 countries now recognise a Palestinian state

The three European countries joined 142 others out of the 193 members of the United Nations which have recognised a Palestinian state.

The group of now 145 countries includes a number of nations in the Middle East, Africa, and Asia. However, the list does not include any major countries like the United States, Canada, most of western Europe, Australia, Japan and South Korea. 

WATCH | Spain, Norway & Ireland formally recognise Palestinian state

However, Spain, Ireland and Norway are hoping to change that. The three countries believe that by acting together other European countries will follow suit for a diplomatic push to help secure a ceasefire in Gaza as well as bring back the hostages. 

The Hamas’ October 7 attack on southern Israel led to the killing of 1,200 people, and around 250 others were taken back to the Palestinian enclave as hostages, according to Israeli officials. 

EU countries and Palestine

Before European Union countries, Ireland and Spain, joined the list only seven members of the 27-nation bloc had officially recognised a Palestinian state. Out of which, six had announced recognition back in 1988 prior to the creation of the bloc. In 2014, Sweden became the first EU nation to do so. 

It also seems like the efforts by the three countries have worked as EU member Slovenia is set to recognise Palestinian statehood in June after Prime Minister Robert Golob said his government will forward its decision to parliament for final approval, on Thursday (May 30). 

However, despite many European countries criticising Israel for its military operation in Gaza, the 27-nation bloc remains divided. 

Some countries in the EU have sought to recognise a Palestinian state in hopes of eventually bringing peace in the Middle East, while other countries like Germany, Hungary, and the Netherlands staunchly support Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government.

Finnish President Alexander Stubb, according to the state media, has also said that they would also recognise Palestine “at some stage in the future”. 

France has previously indicated that it will not join other countries in recognising a Palestinian state, with Foreign Minister Stephane Sejourne accusing fellow EU members of making the move as part of “political positioning,” instead of seeking a solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Three countries recognise Palestinian state

Spanish PM Pedro Sánchez, on Tuesday (May 28) announcing the move said that “this is a historic decision that has a single goal, and that is to help Israelis and Palestinians achieve peace.”

He also said that the decision is not against Israel whom Sánchez called a “friendly people whom we respect, whom we appreciate and with whom we want to have the best possible relationship.”

Also Read | Spain, Norway and Ireland formally recognise Palestinian statehood as Israel fumes

Ireland and Norway soon joined Spain in formalising the decision which they had jointly announced a week prior and hoped their decision will accelerate efforts towards securing a ceasefire amid the way which is now in its eighth month.

The countries said that they recognised a Palestinian state based on borders established before the war in 1967, with Jerusalem as the capital of both Israel and Palestine.

However, they acknowledged that those borders might change if any eventual talks take place for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. 

On Tuesday, the Palestinian flag was raised in Dublin outside Leinster House, the seat of Ireland’s parliament. 

“I hope (this) sends the Palestinian people a message of hope that – in this their darkest hour – Ireland stands with them,” Irish PM Simon Harris told lawmakers after his cabinet approved the decision. 

Amid the ongoing war in Gaza, Ireland has time and time again voiced its support for Palestinians and condemned Israel for its military operation in the blockaded enclave which, according to the Hamas-run health ministry, has killed more than 36,000 people. 

Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide, in a statement, said Oslo has been one of the “strongest advocates for a Palestinian state” and called it a “milestone in the relationship between Norway and Palestine.” 

Ireland said it would appoint an ambassador and create a full embassy in the West Bank’s Ramallah. Meanwhile, Norway will upgrade its diplomatic office in the West Bank to an embassy. 

Spain, for now, said it will maintain its consulate in Jerusalem. However, Israel said that the consulate won’t be allowed to attend to Palestinians.

US President Joe Biden has opposed “unilateral recognition” of a Palestinian state, saying that it “should be realised through direct negotiations between the parties.” 

Israel’s reaction

As expected, the decision taken by the three countries left Israel fuming. After the announcement by the Spanish PM, Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz quickly lashed out at Madrid saying that Sánchez’s government was “being complicit in inciting genocide against Jews and war crimes.”

Also Watch | ‘It’s reward for terror’: Netanyahu blasts Ireland, Norway, Spain for recognising Palestinian state

Israeli officials also summoned the countries’ ambassadors in Tel Aviv to the foreign ministry where they were filmed while being shown videos of Hamas’ attacks and abductions on October 7. 

Meanwhile, Netanyahu called it a “reward for terror” saying that a sovereign State of Palestine would be a “terror state” that would “try to repeatedly carry out the massacre of October 7th”. 

Will recognition make a difference?

While the decision by the three nations is mostly symbolic, since they aren’t recognising an existing state, just the possibility of one, it does help enhance the Palestinians’ international standing. 

Palestinians have long sought an independent state which would be made up of Gaza, the West Bank and east Jerusalem, territories Israel captured in the 1967 Mideast war. 

To make it happen, the idea of a land corridor linking Gaza and the West Bank through Israel was discussed in previous rounds of peace talks, but nothing came of them and negotiations have not been held in more than 15 years.

Also Read | Netanyahu accused of 'failing miserably' as war cabinet members press for Israel elections

The recognition, particularly by Spain, Ireland and Norway, also makes Israel look more isolated on the international stage amid a wave of criticism against Israeli military operations in Gaza and Netanyahu and heaps more pressure on Israel to open negotiations on ending the war.

Countries that recognise Palestinian state

India was among the first countries to officially recognise an independent Palestinian state on November 15, 1988, during the first Palestinian intifada (uprising) when Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat unilaterally proclaimed an independent Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital.

Algeria became the first country to do so, and within a few weeks India, Turkey, most of Africa and several central and eastern European countries followed suit.

The next wave of recognition was in late 2010 and early 2011 with South American countries including Argentina, Brazil and Chile joining the list in response to Israel ending its temporary ban on Jewish settlement building in the occupied West Bank.

(With inputs from agencies)