Spain To Recognize Palestinian Statehood By July, Its PM Says

Spain is poised to officially acknowledge the statehood of Palestine by July, as communicated by Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez during his recent tour of the Middle East, according to various reports disclosed by Spanish media outlets on Tuesday.

Sanchez was reported to have made these comments during an informal exchange with journalists accompanying him on the trip, which commenced in the Jordanian capital, Amman. His tour encompassed visits to Jordan, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia, as detailed by state news agency EFE and newspapers El Pais and La Vanguardia.

The Prime Minister alluded to anticipated developments in the conflict preceding the European Parliament elections slated for early June, underscoring the ongoing discussions within the United Nations. He expressed confidence in Spain’s forthcoming recognition of Palestine, projecting a convergence of support within the European Union, suggesting a pivotal mass movement toward a shared stance among member states.

Sanchez’s announcement coincides with remarks made by Riyad Mansour, the Palestinian Authority’s representative to the UN, who disclosed plans to seek full UN membership during a session of the Security Council. Mansour highlighted the persisting obstacle posed by the United States, a staunch ally of Israel, which holds veto power within the council. The Palestinian Authority’s previous application for full membership, initiated in 2011, remained unresolved due to the council’s failure to reach a formal decision, Mansour informed Reuters.

The presidency of the Security Council for April rests with Malta, whose ambassador, Vanessa Frazier, confirmed not having received any formal request for action from the Palestinian Authority. Earlier, during a European Council meeting on March 22, Sanchez mentioned Malta, along with Slovenia and Ireland, as countries willing to take initial steps toward recognizing Palestinian statehood. He envisioned this recognition to transpire within the current legislative term, which commenced in 2023.

Israel swiftly criticized the aforementioned nations, alleging that their actions amounted to incentivizing terrorism and jeopardizing the prospects for a negotiated resolution to the Gaza conflict.

A consensus emerged among Arab states and the European Union during a gathering in Spain in November, affirming the two-state solution as the means to resolve the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. Since 1988, 139 out of 193 UN member states have extended recognition to Palestinian statehood.

{Matzav.com Israel}