Spain will recognize the State of Palestine on Tuesday, May 28, in the Council of Ministers meeting, as announced by President Pedro Sánchez to the Congress of Deputies. The Government has waited an extra week than expected to find allies in Europe and take this measure jointly. Spain has coordinated with Ireland and Norway to announce the recognition together and hopes that others will follow suit later on. The inclusion of Norway is important for Spain because it was where the last major attempt at a peace process was made. Israel is expected to react harshly and take diplomatic measures against Spain following this announcement. However, Sánchez believes there are several reasons for recognizing Palestine and positioning Spain on the “right side of history” amidst the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
The political reasons for recognizing Palestine, according to Sánchez, are peace, justice, and coherence. He emphasized that a two-state solution where Israel and Palestine can coexist in security guarantees is essential for peace. In order to empower the Palestinian Authority for future negotiations, Sánchez believes it is necessary to officially recognize the country. He also expressed that Hamas, a terrorist group opposing the Palestinian Authority, has no place in the future of Palestine. Sánchez stressed the importance of historical debt towards the Palestinian people and the need to act with coherence in defending human rights.
Sánchez condemned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu but clarified that the decision to recognize Palestine is not directed against Israel but in favor of peace. He reiterated that the recognition is not in support of Hamas, highlighting the respect towards the Jewish people and their historical ties with Spain. Sánchez acknowledged that the decision may have consequences but emphasized the importance of defending interests and peaceful values through diplomacy. He pointed out the ongoing conflict in Gaza as one of the darkest episodes of the 21st century and expressed his desire for Spain to be on the right side of history.
The Government justifies its decision based on the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, which has resulted in numerous casualties, especially among children. Spain believes that Israel’s actions are hindering the two-state solution, and therefore, countries in Europe, including Spain, should recognize Palestine to address the situation. Sánchez criticized Netanyahu’s approach towards Palestine as detrimental to peace and stated that fighting Hamas is legitimate, but Netanyahu’s policies endanger the two-state solution. He emphasized the obligation of countries defending human rights to act consistently in both Ukraine and Palestine.
The recognition of Palestine by Spain will take place during the European elections campaign and will be a focal point of the PSOE’s discourse. Following the success in the Catalonia elections, Sánchez hopes to demonstrate more resilience than expected in the upcoming elections. The decision to recognize Palestine is seen as an important step towards promoting peace and justice in the region, and Spain’s stance is aimed at contributing to a resolution that respects the rights of both Israelis and Palestinians.
