Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas will meet with Spain’s prime minister and king during a two-day visit to the European country that begins, his first since Madrid formally recognised a Palestinian state in May, AFP reports.

Abbas is stopping in Madrid at Spain’s invitation before heading to New York for the United Nations General Assembly, according to an official in his office.

His visit comes after Spain, along with Ireland and Norway, on May 28 formally recognised a Palestinian state comprising the Gaza Strip and the West Bank.

Spain’s leftist government then announced that a first bilateral summit between Spain and Palestine would be held before the end of the year, and the first Palestinian ambassador to Spain presented his credentials on Monday to Spanish King Felipe VI.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has said the recognition of a Palestinian state is “not against anyone, least of all Israel”, but the move led to a further deterioration in ties between the two countries.

He has been one of the staunchest critics in Europe of Israel’s Gaza offensive since the start of the conflict.