Pedro Sánchez announces that Spain will officially recognize the State of Palestine on May 28

Ireland is not the only country that has recognized this Wednesday, May 22, to Palestine as a State. Spain has also done so official formannouncing that he will consummate it in the Council of Ministers next Tuesday, May 28, after reaching an agreement between the parties that make up the coalition Government. “It is right and we trust that doing so will help build a safer space,” said the President of the Executive, Pedro Sanchezin the lower house.

The announcement occurred on a day in which, in addition, Sanchez faces Congress of the Deputies for give, for the first time, explanations about the information that spreads to his wife, Begoña Gómez.

Despite pointing out that this recognition “is not against anyone”, the socialist leader has harshly charged against the Prime Minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahustating that this “continues to turn a deaf ear and continues to punish with hunger, cold and terror” and echoing the decision of the prosecutor of the International Criminal Court of issue arrest warrants against the leader.

“Netanyahu is generating so much pain, destruction and resentment, and the solution is in serious danger if viable. It will only perpetuate hatred“, he continued. “We are not going to allow the idea of ​​two states to be destroyed, which is fair,” he added.

“The existence of two states, the only solution”

Sánchez has reiterated once again that The only way to resolve the conflict in the Middle East is “the existence of two states, one Israeli and the other Palestinian.” But to achieve this “it is necessary that the two parties sit down to negotiate on equal terms with the same legitimacy.”

Sánchez has indicated that he is “obliged to act, without double standards” because “the external threats” that he spoke of in April “are still there, they have not subsided” and he advocates for “more diplomacy, economic policy and aid.”

Recognition is not the end. It’s just the beginning, and we are going to continue putting pressure on the international community,” Sánchez said.

“We are a pacifist people,” he defended to assert that “it is the right thing to do,” before reporting that he has informed both the Kinglike the secretary general of the UN, Antonio Guterres; and the presidents of the European Council and Commission, Charles Michel and Ursula von der Leyenrespectively.

“Recognition is not the end. It’s just the beginningand we are going to continue putting pressure on the international community,” he said.

Pedro Sánchez communicates it at the same time as Ireland and Norway

Ireland already reported a week ago that it would recognize Palestine as a State at the end of the month, without confirming the date, now known by country officials and confirmed earlier in the day. Spain followed the same line and, this day, finally announced its decision.

Sánchez has been one of the most active European politicians regarding this position and, during a rally held on the occasion of the Catalan elections, he assured that he would announce said recognition in the plenary session of the lower house this Wednesday.

Besides, The announcement of both territories has been made simultaneously. In Ireland it was 8:00 a.m. in the morning, that is, 9:00 a.m. in Spainmoment at which the plenary session in the Cortes Generales began and when the leader of the PSOE confirmed it.

The socialist leader rejected that this announcement would be made before or during the Council of Ministers this Tuesday, despite the fact that the preference of the head of the Executive was to have made it on may 14coinciding with the Nabka anniversary -mass expulsion of Palestinians by the Israeli Army in 1948-.

Sánchez clarified that the delay was due to the fact that coordination with other countries was necessary.

Recognition of Palestine as a State

The Irish press stated that, in addition to their country, this same day they will join “two other countries”one of them was Spainthe other, was still unknown, although Norway has already reported that it will also do so on May 28.

“Today, Ireland, Norway and Spain announce that we recognize the State of Palestine“said the Prime Minister of Ireland, Simon Harris. “Each of us will now take the necessary national steps to materialize this decision,” he added during a press conference from Dublin.

The announcement comes minutes after the Prime Minister of Norway, Jonas Gahr Store, also announced the recognition of Palestine.

Harris has stressed that “It is a historic and important day for Ireland and for Palestine“We believe in freedom and justice as fundamental principles of International Law and we believe that permanent peace can only be achieved through the will of the population,” he stated.

The announcement also comes minutes after the prime minister of norwayJonas Gahr Store, has also announced the recognition of Palestine. Thus, there are 140 countries that recognize the Palestinian State, eight of them European –Bulgaria, Poland, Czech Republic, Romania, Slovakia, Hungary, Cyprus and Sweden– as well as almost all Arab territories or those historically linked to the non-aligned movement.

Of course, as events have developed, it is foreseeable that Slovenia and Malta follow suit. On the contrary, At the moment support for the initiative has not been officially majority and at least it seems that neither Luxembourg nor Belgium will do so.