Spain, Norway, Ireland, so the recognition of the Palestinian state isolates Israel (even) more

The choice has been made. Now the declared hope is that 'our reasons will push other western countries to follow this path'. This is how Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez defended the decision by Spain, Ireland and Norway to recognise the Palestinian state as of 28 May next, a break that was already foreseen and made official yesterday by the three European countries. The authorities in Madrid, Dublin and Oslo explained that the objective is to speed up the search for a ceasefire with Hamas and a diplomatic resolution of the conflict that has been tormenting the Middle East for about seven months3.

Israel immediately rejected the move and recalled its ambassadors from the two EU countries (Spain, Ireland) and Norway, the Scandinavian state that is part of the European Economic Area and had claimed a negotiating role in the conflict tearing the Strip apart. In 1993 Oslo had been the cradle of the eponymous 'peace process' between the two states, which then foundered in 2000. Today, it finds itself in the political crosshairs of Tel Aviv and its premier, Benjamin Netanyahu, who is horrified by the 'reward for terrorism' of the three continental executives. The Palestinian state, Netanyahu said, 'would be a terrorist state. It would try to perpetrate the 7 October massacre again and again'.

The Israeli government has used even harsher tones, accusing the three governments of flanking Hamas and threatening the very existence of Tel Aviv. But in fact the choice of Spain, Ireland and Norway increases the political isolation of the Netanyahu executive, pressurised by complaints about abuses against Palestinian civilians and now by the request for an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court against Netanyahu himself and his Defence Minister Yoav Gallant. As of May 2024, some 140 countries out of the 193 UN recognised the Palestinian state. The acceleration imparted by the inter-European countries could unblock similar intentions of other EU members such as Malta and Slovania, while continental giants France and Germany maintain a more guarded line on the hypothesis. Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani has declared that Italy will only open up to the recognition of Palestine in the event of its 'mutual' recognition of Israel. A meeting between the EU foreign ministers and their counterparts from Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan and Qatar was scheduled for 22 May in Brussels yesterday.

The first issue on the table, Reuters news agency reports, is the search for a shared line on ending the war and building a 'coalition' to contribute to the negotiation efforts. Sven Koopmans, the EU special representative for the Middle East peace process, said European states agreed on priorities such as an end to hostilities, a halt to escalation and a peace settlement that would impose the coexistence of Israel and the Palestinian state. "We may have different positions on recognition, but we are unanimous on the need for a Palestinian state," Koopmans said.

In recent days, the international media have also focused attention on the maxi-defence agreement being finalised between the US and Saudi Arabia. White House spokesman John Kirby said on 19 May that the two sides were "closer than ever" to an agreement that would include American guarantees on the kingdom's defence and Saudi access to US weaponry. The understanding would be part of a broader agreement to normalise relations between Saudi Arabia and Israel, but the most delicate piece of the puzzle remains outstanding. Still that one: the recognition and configuration of the Palestinian State.