He Spanish governmentthrough a decree of the Minister councilconfirmed that recognizes Palestine as a state full. This was announced by President Pedro Sánchez himself who, in a conference early this Tuesday, assured that they are “a pacifist people respectful of the United Nations Charter”.
This historic decision was coordinated with Ireland and Norway, countries that took the same resolution as the Spanish government since this Tuesday. “This is a historic decision that has a single objective, which is the one Israelis and Palestinians reach peace. (…) It is a peremptory need. “said Sánchez.
Sánchez’s speech on Palestine
“The State of Palestine must be viable, with West Bank and Gaza connected by a corridor and with Jerusalem this as capital and unified under the legitimate government of the Palestinian National Authority“Sánchez began to explain during his speech from the Moncloa Palace.
The Spanish president had already advanced, last week, the resolution of Spain to recognize Palestine as a country full of rights. The action was finally coordinated with Norway and Irelandwho also communicated their decision this morning.
But Sánchez did not stop only at legitimizing the Palestinian claim, but went one step further and referred to a hypothetical border division: “Although it is not up to us to define borders, our vision is aligned with the resolutions of the UN Security Council, as well as with the position that the European Union has traditionally defended. That’s why, we will not recognize changes in the 1967 border lines other than those agreed to by the parties”, he deepened.
In this line, Yolanda Diazsecond vice president and Spanish Minister of Labor, assured that Spain must join the “South Africa demand“which was presented to the UN.”We are seeing a real massacre, a real genocide“Diaz said.
“It is a decision that we do not take against anyone, even less against Israel“, a friendly people that we respect and appreciate and with whom we want to have the best possible relationship,” Sánchez explained in his speech. “In addition, this decision reflects our frontal, resounding rejection of Hamas, which is against the two-state solution“said the President who, despite seeking to criticize Hamas, received a resounding response from the Israeli officials.
Israel’s response to Spain
Tension between Spain and Israel continues to increase. Prior to Sánchez’s decision, since Tel Aviv accused and warned the Spanish government on several occasions about the consequences of recognizing a Palestinian state.
Firstly, last week, it was Benjamin Netanyahu himselfPrime Minister of Israel, who assured – through his official X account – that this recognition means “reward terrorism“.
Yesterday, by order of his Minister of Foreign AffairsIsrael Katz, Israel banned the Spanish Embassy in Tel Aviv and the Consulate in Jerusalem “provide service to the Palestinians.” Furthermore, the Netanyahu government criticized Yolanda Díaz for her “antisemitic appeal“when using the expression that Palestine will be free”from the river to the sea”.
Through his X account, Katz stated that Israel will not remain “in silence before a government that rewards terrorism and whose leaders, Pedro Sánchez and Yolanda Díaz, chant the anti-Semitic slogan ‘from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free‘. In turn, Israel’s foreign minister concluded: “The days of the Inquisition are over. Today, the Jewish people have a sovereign and independent State and No one will force us to convert our religion or threaten our existence: we will do it to those who harm us.”.
Source: Ambito
