Three European nations will recognize a Palestine state

Ireland, Norway and Spain announced yesterday they would formally recognize Palestine as a state on May 28 as they say they hope to bring about a two-state solution.

Israel denounced the decision and recalled its ambassadors from the three countries. Its far-right finance minister threatened to stop transferring tax revenues to the Palestinian Authority, which would push the government into a deeper financial crisis.

The US opposed the decision. The White House said that President Joe Biden “believes a Palestinian state should be realized through direct negotiations between the parties, not through unilateral recognition.”

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called it “a reward for terrorism.”

Meanwhile, Palestinians welcomed the recognition of their statehood in east Jerusalem, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, which were seized by Israel in 1967.

142 of the 193 member countries in the UN recognize the state of Palestine but most Western countries including the US, Canada, Australia, Japan and South Korea have not.