Spain, Ireland, Norway to recognise Palestinian state on May 28

Spain Ireland and Norway said on Wednesday that they would recognise a Palestinian state on May 28 a step toward a longheld Palestinian aspiration that came amid international outrage over the civilian death toll and humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip following Israelrsquos offensiveThe triple and almost simultaneous decisions may generate momentum for the recognition of a Palestinian state by other EU countries and could spur further steps at the United Nations deepening Israelrsquos isolationMore to follow suitMalta and Slovenia which also belong to the 27nation European Union may follow suit Some 140 of 190 represented in the UN countries have already recognised a Palestinian statePalestinians gather outside a damaged house in central GazaIrish Prime Minister Simon Harris said on Wednesday it was a move coordinated with Spain and Norway ldquoan historic and important day for Ireland and for Palestinerdquo He said the move was intended to help move the IsraeliPalestinian conflict to resolution through a twostate solutionSpanish Prime Minister Pedro Saacutenchez said that his country will recognise Palestine as a state on May 28 Saacutenchez Spainrsquos Socialist leader since 2018 made the expected announcement to the nationrsquos Parliament on WednesdayHerersquos a look at how and why the new European announcements could be importantWhy does it matterThe 1948 UN decision that created Israel envisaged a neighbouring Palestinian state but some 70 years later control of the Palestinian territories remains divided and bids for UN membership have been deniedThe United States Britain and other Western countries have backed the idea of an independent Palestinian state existing alongside Israel as a solution to the Middle Eastrsquos most intractable conflict but they insist Palestinian statehood should come as part of a negotiated settlement There have been no substantive negotiations since 2009Though the EU countries and Norway wonrsquot be recognising an existing state just the possibility of one the symbolism helps enhance the Palestiniansrsquo international standing and heaps more pressure on Israel to open negotiations on ending the warAlso the move lends additional prominence to the Middle East issue ahead of June 69 elections to the European Parliament when some 370 million people are eligible to vote and a steep rise of the extreme right is on the cardsMay 28Three more countries will recognise PalestineIsrael recalls ambassadors from Ireland NorwayIsraelrsquos Foreign Minister Israel Katz has ordered Israelrsquos ambassadors from Ireland and Norway to immediately return to Israel as Norway said it would recognise a Palestinian state and Ireland was expected to do the same ldquoIreland and Norway intend to send a message today to the whole world terrorism paysrdquo Katz saidTwo Hamas leaders killed in GazaAhmed Yasser alKara who was described as a ldquokeyrdquo figure in the terrorist organisation Hamasrsquo antitank missile operation and who led attacks and terrorist plots against the Israel Defense Forces IDF during the war in Gaza was killed in Khan Yunis in an IDF air strike The strike was carried out with the intelligence aid of the Shin Bet Israelrsquos antiterror General Security ServicesThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever