Spain, Ireland and Norway are set to formally recognize a Palestinian state today — a move that will bolster the global Palestinian cause but has further strained relations between Europe and Israel.
The three European nations say their landmark decision is the best way to achieve lasting peace in the Middle East, but it sparked swift condemnation from Israel, as its foreign minister ordered the immediate recall of its ambassadors from those countries.
Most of the world already recognizes Palestinian statehood: More than 140 out of 193 member states of the United Nations have made their recognition official. But only some nations in the 27-member European Union are among them. Nations that don’t include staunch allies of Israel such as the United States and Germany.
On May 10, a non-binding vote at the UN General Assembly showed overwhelming international support for an independent Palestinian state, leaving the US and a few of Israel’s allies isolated. Israel and the US maintain that a Palestinian state should only be established through a negotiated settlement.
Pressure on Israel: The planned recognition symbolizes the huge amounts of pressure Israel is under after seven months of war that has devastated Gaza, caused a humanitarian crisis and killed more than 36,000 people in Gaza since October 7.
It comes after the International Court of Justice ordered Israel to immediately halt its military operation in Rafah. And Israel is facing unprecedented levels of diplomatic pressure to rein in its military offensive in Gaza.
