In a move that marked an important moment in international relations, Spain officially recognized Palestine as an independent nation. The decision was made in unison with Norway and Ireland last week, and aims to promote peace between Israelis and Palestinians, BTA reports.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez highlighted the historic nature of this decision, emphasizing its aim to support the peace process in the region. Before the Council of Ministers ratified this decision, Sánchez clarified that Spain does not seek to dictate the borders of other nations, but believes in the feasibility of a Palestinian state.
Sanchez outlined a vision for Palestine, suggesting that the West Bank and Gaza Strip should be connected, with East Jerusalem serving as the capital under Palestinian Authority rule. He assured that Spain's decision is not against Israel, a nation that Spain respects and wants to maintain strong relations with.
The Spanish government expressed its opposition to "Hamas" and condemned the group's attacks on Israel on October 7. Sanchez believes that recognizing Palestine is a crucial step towards achieving a two-state solution, a view echoed by several other members of the European Union.
The EU position on Palestine
To date, nine of the twenty-seven EU member states have recognized the state of Palestine. This list includes countries that recognized Palestine before joining the EU, such as Malta, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria and Poland, following the declaration of independence by Yasser Arafat in 1988. Sweden joined this list in 2014, becoming the first country to recognize Palestine after EU membership.
Spain's recent decision underlines its commitment to peace in the Middle East and adds to the growing number of EU countries that recognize Palestine as a sovereign state.