Europe moving closer to recognition of Palestine?
In March, against the backdrop of the current war, Spain, Ireland and Slovenia declared their intention to recognise a Palestinian state. Now they are taking concrete steps: Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has said he aims to achieve recognition by the end of June and is campaigning for further support for the initiative. Ireland's Foreign Minister Micheál Martin is set to present his government with a proposal for recognition. Opinions are divided.
A timely admonishment
The Irish Times welcomes Martin's announcement:
“Ireland in 1980 was the first EU state to endorse the idea of Palestinian statehood, turning this aspiration into actual recognition of that state has taken nearly a quarter of a century. Micheál Martin's announcement ... that Ireland, and several EU allies, will now do so shortly is a welcome and important diplomatic acknowledgment of the well-established reality of Palestinian self-government in the West Bank, and a timely political admonishment of both Israel's war against Gaza and its refusal to advance negotiations on a two-state solution.”
Dubious commitment
El Español is sceptical about Sánchez's initiative:
“Spain's clout in the Middle East is obviously minimal. Israel doesn't see Spain as a relevant player in the region and the prime minister's trips to Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Jordan barely even elicited courteous declarations from those countries' leaders. ... With which Palestinian authority is Pedro Sánchez supposed to negotiate this state? ... Has he thought about how recognition will affect our relations with Egypt, Jordan or the US? ... If the proposal is serious, the prime minister should answer these questions. ... Otherwise we must assume that the Israelis and Palestinians are being used in a frivolous, opportunistic and irresponsible manner.”
Don't raise false hopes
The Irish Independent, condemns the call to recognise Palestine as dangerous political posturing:
“It would cruelly mislead Palestinians and give false hope of contributing to a permanent end to conflict - 139 states have made such declarations but they have had no more impact. ... Ireland making such a declaration will not 'restore hope' that endures but simply stimulate further terrorism, encourage Iran's terrorist proxies to continue the war. ... This proposal is more about government parties cynically seeking votes in forthcoming elections than reigniting a peace process.”