Norway, Ireland and Spain to Recognize Palestinian State

May 23, 2024

Recent news reports say that Spain, Ireland, and Norway plan to formally declare Palestine as a state on May 28. A lot of people see this move as a sign that the Palestinians are standing up for themselves internationally and that it is in response to the humanitarian situation in Gaza that has been made worse by Israel’s military actions.

Contextual Background

The latest decisions by these countries are not unique; they are part of a long history of other countries recognizing Palestine as a state. Sweden, several countries that used to be part of the East Bloc, and some countries that are not in the EU are on this list. There are 140 recognitions around the world right now, which shows that different countries have different ideas about how to solve the problem of peace in the Middle East.

Implications of Recognition

The Palestinians’ push for independence is strengthened by the fact that Spain, Ireland, and possibly other EU countries will soon recognize their position. However, there may not be many real changes on the ground shortly. It puts more pressure on Israel to start peace talks again, which is especially important since Israel is fighting against the idea of the Palestinian state becoming recognized by the rest of the world.

More About the Israeli-Palestinian conflict

Origins: The conflict began with intercommunal violence between Jews and Arabs in Mandatory Palestine in the early 20th century.
1947 UN Partition Plan: Proposed to divide the area into separate Jewish and Arab states, leading to Arab rejection and subsequent war.
1967 Six-Day War: Israel captured the West Bank and Gaza, significantly altering the territorial dynamics.
1993 Oslo Accords: Introduced a process towards Palestinian self-governance but failed to achieve lasting peace.
Water Rights: A major issue, with the 1995 Oslo II Accord including provisions on water and sanitation.
Sports Diplomacy: Israeli and Palestinian youth teams played together in the 1970s and 1980s, showing moments of cooperation.
Architectural Impact: The barrier wall has influenced Palestinian urban development.
2005 Gaza Disengagement: Israel’s unilateral withdrawal from Gaza was a strategic shift not mirrored in the West Bank.
Cultural Influence: Literature, art, and media from the area have all been greatly affected by the conflict, which is often seen in themes of loss and identity.

More About EU-Israel relations

The EU-Israel Association Agreement 1995 is the official basis for relations between the EU and Israel. It strengthens political and economic ties between the two countries. Israel is a part of both the Horizon 2020 science program and the Creative Europe culture program run by the EU. With help from the EU, Israel joined the OECD in 2010. Even though relations are good, settlements cause problems. Since 2015, the EU has labeled Israeli goods that come from occupied areas. The EU is Israel’s biggest trading partner, but in 2009, worries about the Palestinian territories stopped the process of improving ties. The EU helps people in need and works to promote peace, especially through the Middle East Quartet.

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