NEW DELHI: Po Norway AND SpainIreland also formally recognized the state on Tuesday Palestinedespite Israelfurious reaction after seven months of operations in Gaza.
“We wanted to recognize Palestine after the peace process, but we took this step with Spain and Norway to keep the miracle of peace alive,” said Irish Prime Minister Simon Harris.
He then called on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to “listen to the world and stop the humanitarian catastrophe we are seeing in Gaza.”
Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide hailed the move as “a special day for Norwegian-Palestinian relations.”
“Norway has been one of the staunchest defenders of the Palestinian state for over 30 years,” he added.
Having made the day “historic”, Spain followed suit, with spokeswoman Pilar Alegria announcing that the government had officially recognized Palestine.
Earlier, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez stated that the so-called recognition constituted an “necessary requirement” for peace, emphasizing that the move was “not directed against anyone, least of all Israel” and was the only way to ensure a future “Palestinian state coexisting alongside the State of Israel in peace and security.”
He further said that the decision reflects “Spain’s total rejection of Hamas, which is contrary to the two-state solution.”
Irish Prime Minister Simon Harris said it was an “crucial moment” that sent a signal “that there are practical actions we can take as a country to keep our own cabinet hopeful… of a two-state solution” meeting.
“Terrorism Reward”
The decision by Norway, Spain and Ireland to recognize a Palestinian state sparked an irate response from Israel, which called the move a “reward for terrorism.” She then reminded her ambassadors from three European countries.
“The intention of several European countries to recognize a Palestinian state is a reward for terrorism,” said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
“It would be a terrorist state. It would try again and again to carry out the massacre of October 7, and we will not agree to that,” he added.
“Rewarding terrorism will not bring peace and will not stop us from defeating Hamas,” he said.
“We wanted to recognize Palestine after the peace process, but we took this step with Spain and Norway to keep the miracle of peace alive,” said Irish Prime Minister Simon Harris.
He then called on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to “listen to the world and stop the humanitarian catastrophe we are seeing in Gaza.”
Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide hailed the move as “a special day for Norwegian-Palestinian relations.”
“Norway has been one of the staunchest defenders of the Palestinian state for over 30 years,” he added.
Having made the day “historic”, Spain followed suit, with spokeswoman Pilar Alegria announcing that the government had officially recognized Palestine.
Earlier, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez stated that the so-called recognition constituted an “necessary requirement” for peace, emphasizing that the move was “not directed against anyone, least of all Israel” and was the only way to ensure a future “Palestinian state coexisting alongside the State of Israel in peace and security.”
He further said that the decision reflects “Spain’s total rejection of Hamas, which is contrary to the two-state solution.”
Irish Prime Minister Simon Harris said it was an “crucial moment” that sent a signal “that there are practical actions we can take as a country to keep our own cabinet hopeful… of a two-state solution” meeting.
“Terrorism Reward”
The decision by Norway, Spain and Ireland to recognize a Palestinian state sparked an irate response from Israel, which called the move a “reward for terrorism.” She then reminded her ambassadors from three European countries.
“The intention of several European countries to recognize a Palestinian state is a reward for terrorism,” said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
“It would be a terrorist state. It would try again and again to carry out the massacre of October 7, and we will not agree to that,” he added.
“Rewarding terrorism will not bring peace and will not stop us from defeating Hamas,” he said.
