Israel recalls ambassadors as Ireland, Norway and Spain recognise Palestinian statehood

Israel will recall its envoys from Norway and Ireland and possibly other European countries, Foreign Minister Israel Katz said on Wednesday (22 May) after several EU countries announced in a historic move the recognition of a Palestinian state.

The step by Ireland, Norway, and Spain came after several EU countries said in recent weeks they plan to announce recognition.

Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said his country will recognise a Palestinian state on 28 May. Slovenia has indicated it will follow suit by 13 June, once its parliament has voted on the issue.

“It is the right thing to do,” Sánchez told the Spanish parliament on Wednesday, Euractiv’s partner EFE reported. He delimited the territory of the Palestinian state as “Gaza, the West Bank, with East Jerusalem as its capital”.

He also told Parliament he had informed the Spanish King Felipe VI and the secretary general of the UN, Antonio Guterres, as well as the European Council President Charles Michel and the European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen, of this decision.

Shortly after the announcements, Katz said he had “instructed the immediate recall of Israel’s ambassadors to Ireland and Norway for consultations in light of these countries’ decisions to recognize a Palestinian state”.

Katz said Israel’s move would be “sending a clear and unequivocal message” to both countries that “Israel will not remain silent in the face of those undermining its sovereignty and endangering its security”.

“If Spain follows through on its intention to recognise a Palestinian state, a similar step will be taken against it,” he said.

Katz added the recognition would hamper efforts to free the 128 Israeli hostages who remain held by the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas and would “reward Hamas and Iran”.

The recognition comes as an increasing number of European leaders and officials have said the would support a two-state solution in the Middle East, following Hamas’ attack on Israel in October and Israel’s retaliation against Gaza.

Some also view recognition as a political tool to pressure Israel into accepting a two-state solution despite the Netanyahu government’s hostility to the idea. 

“Recognition is a tangible step towards a viable political track leading to Palestinian self-determination,” Hugh Lovatt, senior policy fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR), told Euractiv.

The step would be a pre-requisite for securing Arab engagement in support of a sustainable ceasefire in Gaza, Lovatt said.

“As part of their ‘Arab Vision’ plan to implement a two-state solution, states such as Saudi Arabia have called for US and European recognition of Palestine,” he said.

“To be impactful, recognition of Palestine must be matched with tangible steps to counter Israel’s annexation and settlement of Palestinian territory – such as banning settlement products and financial services,” he added.

EU member states have imposed sanctions against Israeli settlers for attacking Palestinians in the West Bank and added further sanctions on members of Hamas, including for ‘widespread’ sexual violence.

“European governments should also use this as an opportunity to press Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to implement a package of reciprocal steps to revive Palestinian institutions and restore national unity,” Lovatt said.

*Fernando Heller contributed to the reporting.

[Edited by Zoran Radosavljevic]

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