Ireland, Norway and Spain recognized Palestine as an independent state.
What remains of historic Palestine is divided between the Israeli-occupied West Bank and the besieged Gaza Strip, where Israel is waging a nearly eight-month war, killing more than 36,000 people.
Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank expressed optimism and pride that their country and their cause was being recognized more widely.
What does recognition mean for Palestine?
Spain, Ireland and Norway did not recognize the existence of a State, only the possibility of one.
The measure will increase diplomatic relations between the Palestinian Authority and the three countries.
All have announced that they will recognize Palestine according to its pre-1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.
Dublin has said it will transform both the Palestinian mission in Dublin and its own offices in Palestine into embassies, while Oslo and Madrid have already done so.
The hope is that the symbolism will boost Palestine’s international standing and put more pressure on Israel to open negotiations aimed at ending the war.
The measure has already encouraged Slovenia, which is expected to recognize Palestine by June 13th.
Given the membership of Ireland and Spain in the European Union, the move is also expected to place the status of Palestine firmly on the agenda during the EU elections on 6-9 June.
How many countries in the world recognize Palestine?
Of the 193 members of the United Nations General Assembly, 143 had already recognized Palestine.
Tuesday’s acknowledgments are the strongest indication yet that the idea may be gaining traction in the economically and diplomatically powerful states of Western Europe.
With countries recognizing Palestine on Tuesday, what is the total now?
The initiatives by Ireland, Norway and Spain to recognize Palestine bring the total number of states that do so to 146.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said in a press conference on Tuesday that this measure is “the only way to move towards what everyone recognizes as the only possible solution to achieve a peaceful future, that of a Palestinian State that lives side by side with the Israeli State in peace and security”.
What difference does it make to Palestine if a country recognizes it?
In practical terms, not much.
However, any move by the international community to give greater recognition to Palestine gives its diplomats extra influence in any negotiations or summits.
It also allows Palestine to enter into bilateral agreements as an independent state.
Can Palestine fully participate in international systems?
Palestine has been a non-member observer state at the UN General Assembly since 2012, which allows its delegates to address the chamber.
Palestine also confirmed its membership of the International Criminal Court in 2015, when it agreed to accept the court’s jurisdiction over its territory.
With regard to international financial systems, Palestine’s access remains limited.
According to the International Monetary Fund, the Palestinian Authority (PA) does not have access to international capital markets, which means that any deficit in its budget not covered by aid channeled through Israel must be covered by the PA itself.
Gaza depends entirely on aid.
What would it take for Palestine to be fully integrated?
The only country that can determine the statehood of Palestine is Israel as the occupying power.
Ireland, Norway, Spain and the 143 states that have already recognized Palestine hope that international pressure on Israel will make it review the commitments made in the Oslo Accords in the 1990s, when it agreed to pursue a two-state solution.
What did Israel do when it heard about this?
Israel reacted furiously to the decision by the two EU states and Norway, accusing all three of “rewarding terrorism”.
He immediately withdrew his ambassadors to Ireland, Norway and Spain.
Then, the Israeli Foreign Minister, Israel Katz, summoned the ambassadors of the three countries to a meeting where they were shown images of the Hamas-led incursion into Israel on October 7, as proof of why their governments should not recognize Palestine.
The three governments have already condemned the Hamas-led attacks and have consistently conveyed the message that their recognition of Palestine means contributing to a peaceful solution in the region.
This story originally appeared on Aljazeera.com read the full story
