Ireland officially recognized a Palestinian state on Tuesday, the government said in a statement, defying Israel which had condemned the plan.
"Subject to the formal request from the Palestinian authorities, the Government will upgrade the status of the Palestinian Mission in Ireland to that of an Embassy, and authorize the appointment of an Ambassador from the State of Palestine to Ireland," the statement said. "Recognition of Palestine is not the end of a process; it is the beginning...Ireland will continue to work closely with the Palestinian Authority," the statement concluded.
Video: Reuters
"An Ambassador of Ireland to the State of Palestine will be appointed along with a full Embassy of Ireland in Ramallah," the statement said. Irish Prime Minister Simon Harris said the move was about keeping hope for peace alive. "This decision of Ireland is about keeping hope alive. It is about believing that a two-state solution is the only way for Israel and Palestine to live side by side in peace and security," he said in the statement.
"I again call on Prime Minister Netanyahu of Israel to listen to the world and stop the humanitarian catastrophe we are seeing in Gaza."
On Tuesday, Norway also officially recognized the State of Palestine. This move reflects a growing trend among European countries to consider recognizing Palestinian statehood. Spain also joined the list of countries recognizing Palestine as an independent state. However, this decision prompted Israel to immediately recall its envoys to Ireland and Norway for "urgent consultations" and threatened to withdraw the Israeli ambassador from Spain.
In addition to Norway, Spain, and Ireland, several other European nations recognize "Palestine". These include Slovenia, Malta, and Belgium, which are discussing whether and when to formally recognize "Palestine" as a state. Within the European Union (EU), only eight out of 27 members currently recognize Palestine as a state.
Most of the Middle East, Africa, and Asia recognize Palestinian statehood. However, the United States, Canada, Australia, Japan, South Korea, and many Western European states do not.
While the recognition of Palestine as a state varies across different regions and countries, recent developments indicate a growing momentum toward acknowledging its sovereignty on the international stage. The issue remains complex and continues to be a subject of debate and diplomacy worldwide.
