What does it mean to recognise Palestinian statehood?
The move by three European countries fits into a long-term goal of Palestinian leaders to secure diplomatic acceptance, but the immediate impact may be limited.
The decision by three European countries — Ireland, Norway and Spain — to recognize a Palestinian state fits into a long-term goal of Palestinian leaders to secure diplomatic acceptance, but it appears that the immediate practical impact will be limited.
Broadly speaking, recognizing a state means declaring that it meets the conditions of statehood under international law. It typically opens a path to setting up diplomatic relations and an embassy there. But the European countries appeared to be mostly concerned with expressing support for Palestinians and sending a message to Israel at a time of deepening international concern about its conduct of the war.
The foreign minister of Norway, Espen Barth Eide, told a news conference that the country’s representative office to the Palestinian Authority, which was opened in the West Bank in 1999, would become an embassy. He gave no date for this change but said it would enable Norway to enter into bilateral agreements.
Recognition would also have some “domestic legal effects in Norway in areas where issues related to the state of Palestine arise,” he said.
Statements by the leaders of Ireland and Spain focused on the need for peace in Gaza and the importance of a two-state solution, but did not mention embassies or other immediate changes.
“Recognition of Palestine is not the end of a process, it is the beginning,” said Simon Harris, the taoiseach, or prime minister, of Ireland. He said that Ireland was recognizing the right of a Palestinian state to exist in peace and security within internationally agreed borders, and said that to do so sent a message “that there is a viable alternative to the nihilism of Hamas.”
Mr. Harris said he would travel to Brussels on Sunday to meet more than 40 partners from the Middle East, Europe and elsewhere “to discuss how recognition can make a concrete, practical impact to ending this horrible conflict and implementing a two-state solution.”
To date, around 140 countries, mainly outside Western Europe, have recognized a Palestinian state, according to the Palestinian Authority’s website. These do not include the United States, Israel’s most significant ally, or Britain, France or Germany.
The announcements on Wednesday fit into a broader Palestinian drive for diplomatic recognition, though the advances so far have had little immediate impact on the lives of people in the West Bank and Gaza.
he United Nations voted in 1947 to create an independent Arab state alongside a Jewish one, but the plan was rejected by neighboring Arab governments and Palestinian Arabs, and the state of Israel was founded amid a war the following year. In the decades since, plans for a two-state solution have repeatedly been stymied.
This month, the U.N. General Assembly overwhelmingly adopted a resolution declaring that Palestinians qualify for full membership status at the United Nations. The Assembly can only grant full membership with the approval of the Security Council, and the United States would almost inevitably wield its veto power to kill such a measure, as it did last month.
Even though a majority in the General Assembly supports Palestinian statehood, the resolution was the first time the body had voted on the issue of full membership, reflecting solidarity with Palestinians that appears to have deepened in some nations as a result of the war in Gaza.
Palestine became a member of UNESCO, the United Nations cultural organization, in 2011, but a bid for full U.N. membership failed. The next year, Palestine was granted the lesser status of observer at the United Nations, a level shared by the Holy See.
Observers can participate in U.N. General Assembly sessions but are not allowed to vote. They also can join the International Court of Justice, which is currently hearing a case on the legality of Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territories.
The prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, Karim Khan, on Monday requested arrest warrants for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel and Hamas leaders on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity. Israel does not recognize the court, but Palestine has been a member of the court since 2015.
Palestine is also party to a number of treaties, and became a member of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons in 2018.
Henrik Pryser Libell contributed reporting.
By Matthew Mpoke Bigg | May 22, 2024
Latest
“The difference between me and you is.
I stand with every innocent, oppressed, victimized person.
But before you decide to stand with these people, you go through a checklist. There they belong.
country, group, region and religion.”
― Mohammed Zaki Ansari, “Zaki’s Gift Of Love”
Generally I do not read article on blogs, however I would like to say that
this write-up very compelled me to check out and do so!
Your writing style has been surprised me. Thank you, very nice
post.
Hello, i feel that i noticed you visited my site so
i came to return the want?.I am attempting to find things to improve my web site!I suppose its adequate to use a few of your ideas!!
Attractive part of content. I simply stumbled upon your blog and in accession capital to
claim that I get actually enjoyed account your blog posts.
Anyway I will be subscribing on your augment and even I achievement you get admission to consistently rapidly.
You actually make it seem so easy together with your presentation but I in finding this matter to be actually one thing which I feel I’d never understand. It kind of feels too complex and very huge for me. I’m looking ahead on your next put up, I’ll attempt to get the cling of it!
Simply desire to say your article is as amazing.
The clearness to your submit is simply excellent and that i
could suppose you’re an expert on this subject. Well
along with your permission let me to snatch your RSS feed to stay updated with
impending post. Thank you 1,000,000 and please continue the gratifying work.
I love your blog.. very nice colors & theme. Did you create this website yourself? Plz reply back as I’m looking to create my own blog and would like to know wheere u got this from. thanks
It is really a great and useful piece of info. I am glad that you shared this helpful information with us. Please keep us up to date like this. Thanks for sharing.
I haven’t checked in here for some time since I thought it was getting boring, but the last few posts are great quality so I guess I will add you back to my everyday bloglist. You deserve it my friend 🙂
This is really interesting, You’re a very skilled blogger.
I’ve joined your feed and look forward to seeking
more of your great post. Also, I have shared your website in my social networks!
Pretty nice post. I just stumbled upon your weblog and wanted to say
that I’ve really enjoyed surfing around your blog posts.
In any case I’ll be subscribing to your feed and I hope
you write again very soon!
I like the efforts you have put in this, thankyou for all the great articles.
Hello, i think that i saw you visited my blog thus i came to “return the favor”.I’m attempting to find things to improve my site!I suppose its ok to use a few of your
ideas!!
Very descriptive post, I loved that bit.
Will there be a part 2?
Hi, yeah this paragraph is actually nice and I have learned
lot of things from it concerning blogging.
thanks.
I have recently started a web site, the information you provide on this website has helped me greatly. Thank you for all of your time & work.
Hi there, every time i used to check weblog posts here early in the daylight, as
i enjoy to find out more and more.
I always emailed this website post page to all my associates, because
if like to read it then my friends will too.
This is a topic close to my heart cheers, where are your contact details though?
I am impressed with this site, really I am a big fan .
Hi there! I could hwve sworn I’ve been to this blog before but after looking at a few of thee posts I
rewlized it’s new to me. Nonetheless, I’m definitely pleased I discovered it and I’ll be book-marking itt and checking back often!