Spain, Norway, Ireland formally recognise Palestinian state in historic day’

MADRID Spain, Ireland and Norway officially recognised a Palestinian state on May 28 despite an angry reaction from Israel, which has found itself increasingly isolated after more than seven months of conflict in Gaza.

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Madrid, Dublin and Oslo said they sought to accelerate efforts to secure a ceasefire in Israel's war with Hamas in Gaza. The three countries say they hope their decision will spur other European Union countries to follow suit.

Spain's government spokeswoman Pilar Alegria confirmed its Cabinet had formally recognised Palestinian statehood, qualifying it as "a historic day".

"It's the only way of advancing toward what everyone recognises as the only possible solution to achieve a peaceful future, one of a Palestinian state that lives side by side with the Israeli state in peace and security," Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said in a televised address.

Spain was recognising a unified Palestinian state, including the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, under the Palestinian National Authority with East Jerusalem as its capital, he said.

As Oslo's formal recognition went into effect, Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide hailed the move as "a special day for Norway-Palestine relations".

"Norway has been one of the most fervent defenders of a Palestinian state for more than 30 years," he added.

The move means 146 of the 193 member-states of the United Nations now recognise a Palestinian state, Spain's Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares said on May 28.

These include many Middle Eastern, African and Asian countries, but not the United States, Canada, most of western Europe, Australia, Japan and South Korea.

The Palestinian Authority, which exercises limited self-rule in the West Bank under Israeli military occupation, has welcomed the decision.