Pedro Sánchez continues his campaign to expand the bloc of countries willing to recognize the Palestinian state. Recently, Norway has joined this initiative. After meeting with Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre in Oslo, both leaders issued a statement declaring their readiness to recognize Palestine as a State and support its full membership in the United Nations. Although the Spanish government has specified that they will take this step before the summer, the statement only indicates that both governments will do so “when it represents a genuine and positive contribution to the peace process between Israel and Palestine”. Norway, unlike Spain, has not set a timeline for recognition and has not yet decided when to take this step, as the situation in the region is dynamic.
The Norwegian Prime Minister stated that both countries share a very similar vision and have agreed to coordinate and work closely on this issue. However, he acknowledged that while not ruling it out, it is not yet decided whether both countries will recognize Palestine at the same time. Spain sees recognition as a way to strengthen the Palestinian position for future negotiations, rather than granting Israel veto power. The joint Spanish-Norwegian statement condemns Hamas’s terrorist attacks, calls for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, and urges increased humanitarian aid to prevent impending famine. It also calls for resuming financial support for UNRWA, the UN agency for Palestinian refugees.
Spain’s initiative to recognize the Palestinian state is gaining momentum, with support from countries like Malta, Slovenia, Ireland, and now Norway. Prime Minister Sánchez’s visit to Oslo is part of a broader effort to gather support for recognition. Discussions with the new Irish Taoiseach, Simon Harris, indicate Ireland’s readiness to recognize Palestine in the coming weeks. Sánchez has emphasized the need to act promptly, noting that lives are at stake and international support for Palestine requires recognition. Portugal, which previously supported recognition but later withdrew, is now considering re-engaging positively in the process. Spain is also planning meetings with other EU partners to coordinate their actions on recognition.
One key moment in this process will be on April 18th, when a debate on the Palestinian state’s admission to the UN is scheduled within the UN Security Council. Spain’s Foreign Minister, José Manuel Albares, is expected to attend. The admission application submitted by Palestinian authorities is still under review, but Algeria has announced plans to propose a separate resolution for a vote. The US State Department’s spokesperson reiterated the traditional stance that recognition should be part of negotiations with Israel and regional countries, but recognized each state’s sovereign decision-making regarding recognition.
As Pedro Sánchez continues to build support for recognizing the Palestinian state, upcoming meetings with Portuguese and Belgian leaders will further shape the collective approach within the EU. The importance of not only agreeing on recognition but also determining the timing and process is crucial. By working closely with like-minded countries in the EU and beyond, Spain aims to amplify the voice of recognition for Palestine on the international stage.
