Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez announced on Tuesday that Spain will recognize a Palestinian state, including the Gaza Strip and the occupied West Bank, unified under the Palestinian National Authority, with East Jerusalem as its capital.
In a televised address, Sanchez emphasized that Spain will not recognize any changes to Palestinian borders post-1967 unless all involved parties agree.
The Spanish government is set to formally approve this recognition later on Tuesday. Sanchez described the recognition as a historic moment, highlighting the unprecedented persecution faced by the Palestinian people.
He stated, “Our decision is not against any country. Establishing peace is the responsibility of all of us,” and noted that the decision aligns with United Nations resolutions.
This announcement follows a similar declaration by Norway, Ireland, and Spain on May 22. Norway’s Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store, Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, and Ireland’s Prime Minister Simon Harris all confirmed their countries’ intentions to recognize Palestine as of May 28, with Ireland not specifying the exact timing.
In response, Israel immediately recalled its envoys to Ireland and Norway for urgent consultations. Israel’s Foreign Minister Israel Katz issued a stern warning to Ireland and Norway, and plans to address the Spanish ambassador similarly.
The Israeli foreign ministry also released a video message to Ireland, cautioning that recognizing a Palestinian state could align them with Iran and Hamas, and would likely exacerbate extremism and instability. Israel argues that such recognition constitutes a “prize for terrorism” and undermines chances for a negotiated resolution to the situation in Gaza.
