EU States Recognize “Palestine”: Israel Hits Back

May 22, 2024 10:48 am | News, Ticker, Virtual Jerusalem

European Nations Ireland, Norway, Spain Take Unprecedented Steps, as Israel Considers Strong Retaliatory Measures

In a landmark move, Norway, Ireland, and Spain have officially recognized Palestine as an independent state, triggering a swift diplomatic response from Israel. This decision reflects a growing support for Palestinian statehood within the European Union but has been met with varied reactions globally.

European Announcement and Reactions

The recognition, announced in coordinated statements from Oslo, Dublin, and Madrid, asserts the right of Palestinians to self-determination and aims to bolster efforts towards a two-state solution. Josep Borrell, the EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs, stated, “This collective recognition is intended to send a strong message in support of Palestinian sovereignty”​.

Irish Prime Minister Simon Harris emphasized the collaborative effort, stating, “When we move forward, we would like to do so with as many others as possible to lend weight to the decision and to send the strongest message”​. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez highlighted that Spain seeks to demonstrate leadership within the EU by encouraging more states to recognize Palestine​.

Israel’s Firm Response

Israel has responded swiftly and decisively. A senior Israeli official, speaking on condition of anonymity, outlined the government’s stance: “Israel will not permit the dilution of its sovereignty or the undermining of its territorial integrity. Consequently, we will restrict the access of Norwegian, Irish, and Spanish diplomats to Palestinian areas in Judea, Samaria, and Gaza”​.

Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen labeled the European recognition as a “prize for terrorism,” expressing that it undermines the chances of a negotiated resolution to the conflict. “This decision rewards those who perpetuate violence and does nothing to foster peace,” Cohen said.

Potential Diplomatic Retaliation

In addition to restricting diplomatic access, Israel is contemplating a series of reciprocal recognitions aimed at the European countries involved:

  1. Catalonia: Israel may recognize Catalonia’s independence, challenging Spain’s territorial integrity and echoing the Catalan independence movement’s aspirations.
  2. Northern Ireland: By recognizing Northern Ireland as independent, Israel could challenge Ireland, emphasizing the contentious nature of territorial disputes. But the UK, so far witholding recognition of Palestinian statehood, might also take offense.,
  3. Norwegian Arctic Claims: Israel might support various territorial claims in the Arctic region involving Norway, particularly those related to extended continental shelf claims. Not to mention the rights of indigenous Eskimos and Penguins.

Global Reactions and Implications

The international community is closely watching these developments. The United States has urged restraint and renewed dialogue to address underlying issues. Meanwhile, other nations are assessing the potential impacts on their foreign policies and alliances, aware that this situation could escalate tensions further.

9 Comments

  1. Colten irons

    “You cannot reason with a man who’s culture does not contain the word. You can only shoot him before he shoots you, thus eliminating the problem. History provides ample proof of the equation. I extend no apology to the brain dead liberals who would attempt to dispute me with empty rhetoric.”
    Colten Irons

    • Sheikh Anvakh

      I find it more that ironic that the undemocratic EUVwith it’s unelected commission, blathering on about recognising “Palestinian” sovereignty while the EU itself seeks to undermine and eliminate the sovereignty of it’s member states.
      So-called palestine has no currency, no productive economy, exists on hand outside, a kleptocraric leadership and promotes gate and genocide in its charter. We’re in clownworld.

  2. sidney sands

    Why be surprised about countries. Such as Norway where we get the name Quisling from, and Ireland who remained so called neutral during the last War, Germans walking freely about Dublin, not sure whether the Irish hate the U.K or Israel more, and of course Spain another country who supported the Nazis, ruled by Franco, and expelled all Jews in1492, let misfortune be their reward

  3. judith hope

    Hamas terrorists, father and son, admit raping before murdering women on Oct. 7
    ‘Post’ takes a look inside Hamas’s Jabalya tunnels that hid hostage bodies
    These terrorists are savages, I doubt that Norway, Spain and Northern Ireland would wish to have them as neighbours
    What does it take to make the world realise what these people are ?

  4. Steven Adelman

    Spain apparently is as antisemitic as it was at the time of the Inquisition. Before the Inquisition Spain was the preeminent intellectual center in the world with most of the thinkers responsible for Spain’s preeminence being Jews. Ferdinand and Isabella kicked the Jews out of Spain. Spain was “rewarded” by the pair’s bigotry by degenerating into the mediocre nation that it is today, far inferior to Israel in every domain except art, since Israel doesn’t have any artists of the caliber of Picasso and Dali. But what about Nobel Prizes?
    Israe has the highest per capita percentage of science Nobel Prize winners in the world. Does Spain have even a single science Nobel Prize winner?
    In a major women’s basketball game in which the Israeli team competed against the Irish team, the Irish women reused to shake the Israeli women’s hands. So, it was a pleasure to Israel kick Irish ass 80-50.

  5. sean Walsh

    Two weeks ago, when I learned that some European States would unilaterally recognize the State of Palestine, I wrote a 10-page letter to the Foreign and/or Prime Ministers of Ireland, Belgium, Malta, Solvenia and Spain, as well as to the European Parliament, urging them to not do this, as no good would come of it, for anybody. I did this as an Irish citizen and therefore, a citizen of the E.U. I hope and pray that other E.U. nations will not be so benighted.

  6. Moshe Ofer

    I hope this would be helpful
    Norway a greedy country– the righteous people. They kicked out the Sami natives from the north of Norway to exploit the natural resources
    The United Nations Special Rapporteur on the rights of Indigenous Peoples, Ms. Victoria Tauli-Corpuz, reviewed the human rights situation of the Sami in Norway, Sweden and Finland in 2016 on the basis of information received during her visit to the Sápmi region, including a conference organized by the Sámi Parliamentary Council in Bierke / Hemavan, Sweden, in August 2015. Its report is also based on independent investigations. The report emphasizes that the three states do not meet their stated objectives of guaranteeing the human rights of the Sami people.
    In particular, the report highlights the negative impacts that extractive industry operations are having on Sami livelihoods and culture. For example, the Norwegian Mining Law and the Swedish Minerals Law raise serious questions about the ability of States to respect, protect and fulfil the human rights of the Sami in the context of the extractive industry. In her report, Ms. Tauli-Corpuz raises questions about whether States clearly express the expectation that all commercial enterprises must respect human rights in all their operations.
    In March 2016, the Human Rights Committee reviewed the seventh periodic report of Sweden on the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (CCPR). The Human Rights Committee welcomed the support of the State party for realizing the right of the Sami peoples to self-determination. The Committee remained concerned about four main issues: the slow progress in the negotiations for the adoption of the Sami Nordic Convention; the limited resources allocated to the Sami Parliament; the scope of the duty to consult with representatives of the Sami people in relation to extraction and development projects; and the difficulties faced by Sami claimants to demonstrate land ownership and the inability of Sami villages to obtain legal assistance under the law of legal aid.

  7. Wm

    Spain, Ireland, Norway = SIN

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