Spain's PM pledges recognition of Palestinian statehood by July, reports reveal

During his Middle East tour, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez announced that Spain would officially recognize Palestinian statehood by July this year.

He made this announcement in Amman, Jordan, and Spanish media, including state news agency EFE and newspapers El Pais and La Vanguardia, which extensively reported on it.

“We expect a 'critical mass' within the European Union to support Palestinian statehood by July,” Sanchez stated, acknowledging the significance of the upcoming European Parliament elections and current discussions at the United Nations.

This announcement aligns with commitments made at a European Council meeting on March 22, where Spain, along with Ireland, Malta and Slovenia, agreed to recognize the statehood declared by Palestinians in the Israeli-occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip.

In a sharp reaction, Israel criticized the decision, describing it as a "prize for terrorism" that could undermine efforts for a negotiated resolution to the Gaza conflict.

Meanwhile, the Palestinian Authority's U.N. envoy Riyad Mansour announced their plan to apply for full U.N. membership.

Malta, currently presiding over the U.N. Security Council, awaits a formal request from the Palestinian Authority for this matter.

Spain's move follows a broader international trend, with 139 out of 193 U.N. member states already recognizing Palestinian statehood.

The Palestinian Foreign Ministry hailed this European readiness as a “strategic necessity” for achieving peace through a two-state solution.

This sentiment was echoed in an agreement among Arab states and the EU during a meeting in Spain last November, advocating for an independent Palestinian state as the solution to the conflict.

Source: Newsroom