Spain recognises Palestinian State

Madrid: The Prime Minister of Spain Pedro Sánchezhas Tuesday formally announced the recognition of Palestine, saying the Cabinet will recognize a Palestinian state at its Tuesday morning meeting as a European Union rift with Israel widens.

Spanish Prime Minister said that reconginising Spain is a historic moment.

He stated that there is no example in history of atrocities on Palestinians.

It is pertinent to note that the number of states recognising Palestine has reaches 146.

Earlier, Norway, Ireland and Spain had announced that they will recognise an independent Palestinian state, regarding which Norway’s Prime Minister had said that in the hope that this will help to bring peace with Israel.

Ireland and Norway were also to make official their recognition of a Palestinian state later in the day. While dozens of countries have recognized a Palestinian state, none of the major Western powers has done so.

Sánchez, who announced his country’s decision before parliament last week, has spent months touring European and Middle Eastern countries to garner support for recognition and a cease-fire in Gaza.

Relations between the EU and Israel nosedived Monday, the eve of the diplomatic recognition EU members Ireland and Spain, with Madrid insisting that sanctions should be considered against Israel for its continued deadly attacks in southern Gaza’s city of Rafah.

Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz told Spain that its consulate in Jerusalem will not be allowed to help Palestinians.

At the same time, the EU’s foreign policy chief Josep Borrell threw his weight to support the International Criminal Court, whose prosecutor is seeking an arrest warrant against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and others, including leaders of the Hamas militant group.

Additional input by: AP NEWS