ArmInfo.On May 22, Norway, Ireland and Spain announced their intention to recognize the State of Palestine.
According to Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store , this step will contribute to the establishment of peace in the Middle East. "By recognizing the Palestinian state, Norway supports the Arab peace plan. Oslo will officially recognize the Palestinian state on May 28," he said.
Meanwhile, the Norwegian government's message emphasizes that Norway supports and seeks to promote a two-state solution, as well as recognition of Palestine as a state. Norway maintains its long-standing position that a final solution to the conflict in the Middle East can only be achieved through a two-state solution, it said.
On May 28, Palestine will be recognized by like-minded European countries simultaneously within its 1967 borders, in accordance with international law and relevant UN Security Council resolutions, the statement said.
In turn, Irish Prime Minister Simon Harris considers recognition of Palestine the only reliable path to peace between it and Israel, saying that the solution should contribute to achieving a two-state agreement.
And Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez noted that his country recognized Palestine in order to achieve peace, justice and harmony, and expressed confidence that other European countries would follow Madrid's example. "The more of us there are, the sooner we will achieve a ceasefire. The decision is not directed against Israel or in support of Hamas. The decision will come into force on May 28," he concluded.
Israel has already recalled its ambassadors from Norway and Ireland in response. ""Ireland and Norway intend to send a message today to the Palestinians and the whole world: terrorism pays," Katz said," said Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz, demanding that the ambassadors to Ireland and Norway immediately return to Israel. He also threatened to recall Israel's ambassador to Spain.
The Palestinian Hamas movement published a statement on its Telegram channel in which it welcomed the statements of Norway, Ireland and Spain to recognize the state of Palestine and called it an "important step towards asserting the right of the Palestinian people to establish their own independent state." Notably, on May 10, the UN General Assembly (GA) adopted a draft resolution with a recommendation to the Security Council (SC) to again consider the issue of Palestine's full membership in the world organization. Then 143 UN members voted for expanding the powers of Palestine in the UN, 9 were against. Another 25 states abstained. Armenia voted for this document.
Palestine has already been recognized by Sweden, Bulgaria, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Malta, Romania, Poland. Slovakia took this step before joining the EU.