As Spain, Norway, Ireland endorse nationhood for besieged people, Israel’s isolation grows

Editor’s note: As Spain, Ireland and Norway formally recognize the State of Palestine, China Daily looks at the impact it could have on the Gaza conflict as well as the plight of the Palestinians in light of continued Israeli attacks.

Spain, Norway, and Ireland on May 28 formally recognized the State of Palestine in a coordinated effort by the three Western European nations to step up international pressure on Israel as it continues its relentless assaults in Gaza, ignoring global calls to halt the deadly months-long military offensive and walk the path toward lasting peace.

With the number of European countries recognizing the State of Palestine continuing to grow, Israel and its staunch ally, the United States, are becoming more isolated than ever in the face of increasing acceptance of a two-state solution as the only route to peace.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez told his nation in a televised address from Madrid that “this is a historic decision that has a single goal, and that is to help Israelis and Palestinians achieve peace”.

Ireland and Norway joined Spain in formalizing a decision they had jointly announced the previous week.

Israel’s Foreign Minister Israel Katz quickly lashed out at Spain on X, saying Sanchez’s government was “being complicit in inciting genocide against Jews and war crimes”.

Last week’s announcement by Spain, Ireland, and Norway triggered an angry response from Israel, which summoned the nations’ ambassadors in Tel Aviv to the foreign ministry.

Several other European countries, including Malta and Slovenia, have also signaled their intent to recognize a Palestinian state. Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo said last week that Belgium is waiting for the “right moment”.

Slovenia’s Prime Minister Robert Golob said on May 27 that his government will decide on the recognition of a Palestinian state this week and forward its decision to parliament for final approval, the Associated Press reported.

Shada Islam, a Brussels-based commentator on EU affairs, suggested that the recognition by Norway, Ireland, and Spain is “almost certainly” going to be followed by Belgium, Malta, and Slovenia in the coming weeks, Xinhua reported.

In March, Slovenia and Malta signed a statement with Spain and Ireland expressing their willingness to recognize a Palestinian state.

Awni Khattab, a displaced Gazan, said he hoped the recognition would lead to territorial sovereignty for Palestinians. “We hope this decision will be implemented and that a Palestinian state will be established along the (June) 1967 borders,” he told Agence France-Presse.

Despite angry reactions from Israel, which has found itself increasingly isolated after more than seven months of conflict in Gaza, calls are growing louder for a two-state solution to the crisis in the Middle East.

The two-state solution adopted in UN resolutions has met resistance from Israel and the US for decades.

The White House said on May 22 that US President Joe Biden believes a Palestinian state should be achieved through negotiations, rather than unilateral recognition, Reuters reported. The Palestinian Authority has slammed the US for its blind support of Israel.

Agencies and Xinhua contributed to this story.

Contact the writers at jan@chinadailyapac.com