BRUSSELS: Recognizing the State of Palestine is justice for the Palestinian people and the best guarantee of security for Israel, Spain’s foreign minister Jose Manuel Albares said on Sunday alongside Palestinian prime minister Mohammed Mustafa.
Welcoming Spain’s decision, with Norway and Ireland, to recognize the Palestinian state on Tuesday, Mustafa said that Palestinians wanted to have every country in Europe to do the same.
Albares and Mustafa spoke side-by-side in Brussels, where the Palestinian leader was also meeting European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell and Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide, AFP reported.
On Monday he will have another meeting in Brussels with the Norwegian, Spanish, and Irish ministers. And on Wednesday he will be in Spain.
Israel has warned Spain, Ireland, and Norway that ties with them will face serious consequences for their announced recognition of a Palestinian state.
Palestinian Statehood
Israel’s catastrophic war in Gaza has given impetus to countries wanting recognition of the State of Palestine.
They hope that the measures towards a long-elusive two-state solution, with Israel and a Palestinian state, will build foundations for peace in the Middle East.
A majority of UN member nations recognize Palestinian statehood. European countries are split on the matter.
Spain, Italy, and Norway will join EU nations Bulgaria, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Romania, Hungary, Poland, and Sweden in recognizing the State of Palestine.
Mustafa said recognition of a Palestinian state addresses the injustice that has been inflicted on Palestinians for decades.
He said that they hoped this momentum of recognition and initiatives would continue.
