Norway, Spain And Ireland Officially Admit Palestinian Countries

Illustration. (Wikimedia Commons/Joi Ito)

JAKARTA - Spain and Norway officially recognize the Palestinian Negar on Tuesday as previously announced, with Ireland also following official recognition today.

"The Spanish government officially recognized the Palestinian State in a cabinet meeting on Tuesday," Foreign Minister Manuel Albares told a news conference in Madrid.

Just before the cabinet meeting, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro S waychez said in a speech broadcast nationally on television, Spain would join "more than 140 countries that have recognized Palestine". Meanwhile, spokesman for the Spanish Government Pilar Alegria said the cabinet had "taken an important decision to recognize a Palestinian country with one goal: to help Israel and Palestine reach peace," as quoted by The Times of Israel.

Separately, Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide said his country had made a milestone in relations between Norway and Palestine, as the country officially recognizes the Palestinian State.

"For more than 30 years, Norway has been one of the strongest supporters of the Palestinian state," Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide said in a statement Tuesday, when the country's official recognition came into effect.

"I believe the Palestinian government will continue the hard work of reform and lay the groundwork for the governments of the West Bank and Gaza after the ceasefire," he continued.

"It is regrettable that the Israeli government shows no signs of being involved constructively," said the Norwegian Foreign Minister.

"The international community must increase its political and economic support for Palestine and continue to strive to achieve a two-state solution," he added.

Foreign Minister Eide handed over "formal confession documents" to Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Mohammed Mustafa when they met in Brussels, Belgium on Sunday.

In Dublin, Ireland officially recognized the Palestinian State at a cabinet meeting on Tuesday against Israel condemning the plan.

"The government recognizes Palestine as a sovereign and independent country and agrees to establish full diplomatic relations between Dublin and Ramallah," the statement said.

"Irland Ambassador to the Palestinian State will be appointed along with the Irish Embassy in Ramallah," he continued.

Ireland's Prime Minister Simon Harris said the move was aimed at keeping hopes of peace alive.

"Irland's decision is about keeping expectations alive. It's about the belief that a two-state solution is the only way for Israel and Palestine to coexist," he explained.

"I once again call on Prime Minister Netanyahu from Israel to listen to the world and stop the humanitarian catastrophe we see in Gaza," he continued.

Earlier, Norway, Spain, and Ireland publicly announced on May 22 that they would officially recognize the Palestinian State on May 28.

The move was heavily criticized by Israel, withdrew its ambassadors from Madrid, Oslo and Dublin, then summoned the ambassadors of the three countries to watch videos of Israelis being held hostage by armed groups Hamas.