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Today's Paper | May 12, 2026

Published 22 May, 2024 02:20pm

Israel furious as 3 European countries recognise Palestinian state

Israel reacted with fury after three European countries said they would recognise a Palestinian state, more than seven months into the devastating Gaza war, AFP reports.

Ireland, Norway and Spain said they would formally recognise the State of Palestine on May 28.

Israel strongly opposes the move, arguing that it amounts to “rewarding terrorism”.

Israel said it was recalling its envoys to Ireland and Norway for “urgent consultations” and was expected to do the same with its ambassador to Spain.

Foreign Minister Israel Katz charged that “the twisted step of these countries is an injustice to the memory of the 7/10 victims.” Most Western governments including the United States say they are willing to one day recognise Palestinian statehood — but not before agreement is reached on thorny issues like its final borders and the status of Jerusalem.

However, Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez charged that his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu’s campaign of “pain and destruction” in the Gaza Strip was now putting the two-state solution in “danger”.

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