Spain, Ireland and Norway declare that they will acknowledge the existence of a Palestinian state. What is the significance of this?

Spain, Ireland and Norway have declared they will accept the existence of a Palestinian nation on May 28th, in a move towards a long-standing Palestinian aspiration. The announcement was prompted by international outrage at the number of civilian deaths and humanitarian situation that has erupted in Gaza. Gaza Strip following Israel’s offensive.

Spain, Ireland and Norway said Wednesday that they would recognize a Palestinian state on May 28, a step toward a long-held Palestinian aspiration that came amid international outrage over the civilian death toll and humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip following Israel’s offensive .

The nearly simultaneous actions of two European Union countries, and Norway could create momentum to recognize the existence of a Palestinian State by the other EU countries, and could lead to further actions within the United Nations, deepening Israel’s exile.

At present, seven members of the European Union officially recognize a Palestinian state. Five of them were former members of the east bloc that declared recognition in 1988. The same was the case for Cyprus prior to joining the union. Sweden has announced recognition in 2014.

The Czech Republic, an EU member, has stated that the recognition of 1988 from the then Czechoslovakia -of which it was a component is not applicable to the present state. The Slovakian Foreign Ministry says that the two countries have acknowledged their recognition when Slovakia became independent between 1992 and 1993, and it is reported that Slovakia is a member of the Palestinian state since Palestinian state has an operational diplomatic embassy in Bratislava from 2006.

EU member Malta and Slovenia are said to be considering following the same model.

About 140 of the 190 countries that are part of the U.N. have already recognized the existence of a Palestinian state.

Here’s an overview of the reasons and how the latest European announcements might be significant:

WHY DOES IT MATTER?

An U.N. partition plan in 1947 proposed the establishment of an Jewish state in addition to an Palestinian state, however Palestinians as well as the rest of the Arab world opposed it as it would have granted them less than half the land, despite Palestinians comprised two-thirds the majority of the population.

The war between the Arabs and Israelis that followed year provided Israel with a larger area, Jordan in control of the West Bank and east Jerusalem and Egypt is in charge of Gaza.

In the war of 1967, Israel seized all three territories. Since then, decades of off-and-on peace talks have ended in failure.

There are many countries that support the idea of an independent Palestinian state. United States, Britain and other Western nations have backed the idea of a separate Palestinian state that is part of Israel as a way to resolve the Middle East’s most difficult conflict, however they insist that Palestinian statehood must be part of a deal that has been negotiated. There has been no concrete talks since 2009.

Although they won’t be recognizing an existing state, the EU nations and Norway will not be recognizing an actual state, only the possibility of it is a powerful symbol that helps increase the Palestinians their international standing and increases stress on Israel to begin negotiations on ending the conflict.

Additionally, this move gives an additional importance on it. Middle East issue ahead of the June 6-9 elections for members of the European Parliament.

WHY NOW?

Pressure from the diplomatic community on Israel is growing as the war against Hamas extends into the eighth month. In the U.N. General Assembly has voted with a huge majority the 11th of May to confer the new “rights and privileges” to Palestine in a signal of increasing international support for an election for the full membership vote. It is believed that the Palestinian Authority currently has observer status.

The heads of Spain, Ireland, Malta and Slovenia announced in March that they were looking into the recognition of the existence of a Palestinian country for “a positive contribution” toward ending the conflict.

Spanish Prim Minister Pedro Sanchez said Wednesday, “This recognition is not against anyone, it is not against the Israeli people,” Sanchez added. “It is an act in favor of peace, justice and moral consistency.”

Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide told The Associated Press that even though Norway has been a strong supporter of the creation of the creation of a Palestinian state for many years recognition as a state is “a card that you can play once.”

“We used to think that recognition would come at the end of a process,” he stated. “Now we have realized that recognition should come as an impetus, as a strengthening of a process.”

WHAT ARE THE IMPLICATIONS OF RECOGNITION?

Many nations have accepted the existence of a Palestinian state however, none of the three major Western powers has done so. it’s unclear what kind of difference the decision of the three nations could impact.

But the recognition of their rights would be an important milestone for the Palestinians who believe it gives international legitimacy to their fight. Norway has announced that it is planning to improve its representative’s office in Palestine to become an embassy, but it was unclear the specifics of what Ireland as well as Spain are planning to do.

It is unlikely that much will change at the moment in the near time. Peace talks have been halted and Israel’s hardline administration has been adamant opposition to Palestinian statehood.

WHAT IS ISRAEL’S RESPONSE?

Israel responded quickly Wednesday, calling its ambassadors home for Ireland, Norway and Spain as well as suspending a post-war agreement to pay Palestinian tax revenue into the Palestinian Authority via Norway.

The Israeli government is scathing about talks regarding Palestinian independence as an “reward” for the Hamas attack on the southern part of Israel that killed over 1,200 people and resulted in the abduction of nearly 250 others. It is against any effort to recognize the Palestinians internationally.

The actions taken of the three European countries on Wednesday could bolster and strengthen the Palestinian position and hinder negotiations, Israel says, insisting that all issues must be addressed through talks.

WHO RECOGNIZES A PALESTINIAN

STATE?

Around 140 countries have acknowledged the status of a Palestinian greater than two-thirds United Nations’ membership.

Certain major powers have suggested that their position may be changing due to the outrage over the negative consequences of Israel’s military offensive in Gaza that has killed nearly 35,000 Palestinians according the Gaza’s Health Ministry. The ministry does not differentiate between combatants and noncombatants in its calculations.

British Foreign Minister David Cameron said no recognition of the existence of a Palestinian state is likely to happen in the meantime that Hamas is still in Gaza However, it could happen in Israeli talks in talks with Palestinian leaders were ongoing.

France has stated that it isn’t willing to join other nations in accepting an Palestinian country, even though it’s not opposed to the idea in general. French Foreign Minister Stephane Sejourne, in comments made by his ministry following an in-person session with his Israeli partner on Wednesday said accepting the existence of a Palestinian state would be “useful” in pushing forward the idea of a two-state solution. He also said that recognizing it now isn’t going to have a significant effect in pursuing this objective.

An earlier report incorrectly pointed to an 1948 U.N. decision which led to the establishment of Israel. In reality, Israel declared independence in 1948, following it was announced that the U.N. proposed a partition plan in 1947.

Image Source AP NEWS