PM Pedro Sánchez hails ‘historic decision’ as Canada says it is ‘horrified’ over strike in which at least 45 people were killed
The Spanish, Irish and Norwegian decision to recognise a Palestinian state has drawn a furious reaction from Israel, which has recalled its ambassadors from Madrid, Dublin and Oslo.
In a series of tweets, Israel’s foreign minister, Israel Katz, has accused Spain of giving in to Hamas.
On Sunday, Katz posted a video to X showing flamenco dancers alongside a message that read, “Pedro Sánchez, Hamas thanks you for your service.”
.@sanchezcastejon, Hamas thanks you for your service. pic.twitter.com/Pkdp5diHRX— ישראל כ”ץ Israel Katz (@Israel_katz) May 26, 2024
In a post the following day, he wrote that “the Israeli people and the Spanish people are friends”, adding that they would not be separated by Sánchez nor by his deputy prime minister, Yolanda Díaz, who was criticised last week for using the controversial slogan “Palestine will be free from the river to the sea”.
El pueblo israelí y el pueblo español son pueblos amigos. No permitiremos que nos separaréis ni tú, @sanchezcastejon y @Yolanda_Diaz_, ni los miembros de tu gobierno. pic.twitter.com/lVHZ5v84UU— ישראל כ”ץ Israel Katz (@Israel_katz) May 27, 2024
Spain’s “historic” decision to recognise the state of Palestine later today has been taken in order to bring about peace between Palestinians and Israelis and has not been taken “against anyone, least of all Israel”, Spain’s prime minister has said.
Speaking an hour before his cabinet meets on Tuesday to formally recognise Palestine – a decision that has infuriated Israel and triggered a diplomatic crisis between the two countries – Pedro Sánchez said the decision was based on justice and international law.
He said:
At the meeting of the council of ministers that will be held today, the government will approve the official recognition of Palestine as a state. With this decision, Spain joins the more than 140 countries that already recognise Palestine. This is a historic decision that has a single goal: to contribute to achieving peace between Israelis and Palestinians. The recognition of the state of Palestine is not only a matter of historical justice with the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people; it is also an imperative need to achieve peace.
It is the only way to recognise the solution that we all recognise as the only possible one to achieve a future of peace – that of a Palestinian state that coexists alongside the state of Israel in peace and security. The state of Palestine must be viable with the West Bank and Gaza connected by a corridor and with East Jerusalem as its capital and it must be unified under the legitimate government of the Palestinian national authority.”
Sánchez said that while it was not up to Spain to define another country’s borders, its position was aligned with those of the UN security council and the EU: “Therefore we won’t recognise change in the 1967 lines other than those agreed to by the parties.”
The prime minister also stressed that “the recognition of Palestine isn’t against anyone – least of all Israel, a friendly nation that Spain values and holds in high regard and with whom we aim to foster the strongest possible relationship”. He said the decision reflected Spain’s “absolute rejection” of Hamas, which opposes the two-state solution.
“From the outset, Spain has strongly condemned the terrorist attacks of 7 October,” he said. “This clear condemnation is the resounding expression of our steadfast commitment in the fight against terrorism.”
Sánchez said Spain would do all in its power to make the two-state solution a reality, and renewed his calls for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza, for humanitarian aid to be allowed into Gaza, and for all the Israeli hostages to be released.
