Ireland, Spain, Norway to formally recognize Palestine

News Excerpt: 

Ireland, Spain, and Norway have announced plans to formally recognize a Palestinian state, in a move that is likely to bolster the global Palestinian cause but further strain relations between Europe and Israel.

More about the news:

  • The three European nations claim their landmark decision is the best path to lasting Middle East peace, but it prompted swift condemnation from Israel, which immediately recalled its ambassadors from those countries. 
  • While over 140 of the 193 UN member states officially recognize Palestinian statehood,  only some nations in the 27-member European Union are among them.
  • Ireland's Prime Minister announced that Ireland would recognize Palestine as a state on May 28, linking this decision to Ireland's own struggle for freedom from Britain.
    • He stated that Ireland believes recognizing a Palestinian state will lead to peace and reconciliation in West Asia, while also recognizing Israel's right to exist securely and at peace with its neighbors.
    • He called for an end to military incursions into Rafah by Israel and an end to rocket fire at Israel by Hamas and Hezbollah.
  • Norway's Prime Minister said that Norway can no longer wait for the conflict to be resolved before recognizing Palestine as the “Two State Solution” is the only alternative offering a political solution for Israelis and Palestinians.
    • Norway has been involved in peace talks between Israel and Palestine for decades, including hosting the start of the Oslo peace process in the 1990s.
  • Spain's Prime Minister stated that recognizing Palestine is a step in favor of peace, justice, and moral consistency, and not against Israelis.

Two-State Solution:

  • The two-state solution proposed a framework for resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict by establishing two states for two peoples: Israel for the Jewish people and Palestine for the Palestinian people. 
  • In 1993, the Israeli government and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) agreed on a plan to implement a two-state solution as part of the Oslo Accords, leading to the establishment of the Palestinian Authority (PA).

Origin of the Two-State Solution:

  • The conflict occurred in British-ruled Palestine between Arabs and Jews who had migrated to the area, seeking a national home as they fled persecution in Europe and citing biblical ties to the land.
  • In 1947, the United Nations agreed on a plan to partition Palestine into Arab and Jewish states with international rule over Jerusalem. Jewish leaders accepted the plan, which gave them 56% of the land. The Arab League rejected it.
  • The state of Israel was declared on May 14, 1948. A day later, five Arab states attacked Israel. The war ended with Israel controlling 77% of the territory.
  • Some 700,000 Palestinians fled or were driven from their homes, ending up in Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria as well as in the Gaza Strip, the West Bank, and East Jerusalem.
  • In a 1967 war, Israel captured the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, from Jordan and Gaza from Egypt, securing control of all territory from the Mediterranean to the Jordan Valley.
  • The Palestinians remain stateless, with most living under Israeli occupation or as refugees in neighboring states. Some - mostly descendants of Palestinians who remained in Israel after its creation - have Israeli citizenship.

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