Arab states praise Ireland, Norway and Spain for recognizing State of Palestine

AFP | Riyadh

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

Arab states hailed the decision by Ireland, Norway and Spain to recognise a Palestinian state yesterday and urged other countries to follow suit.

Saudi Arabia and Egypt, which borders the war-ravaged Gaza Strip, were among the Middle East countries that praised the move, having called for a twostate solution for decades.

Dublin, Madrid and Oslo announced they would recognise a Palestinian state next Tuesday, nearly eight months into the devastating Gaza conflict.

Israel strongly opposed the decision, arguing it was “rewarding” Hamas fighters after their October 7 attack which sparked the Gaza war. But Saudi Arabia called it a “positive decision” that “affirms the international consensus on the inherent right of the Palestinian people to self-determination”.

Saudi call The Gulf kingdom, which has long positioned itself as a champion of the Palestinian cause, said it “calls on the rest of the countries to quickly make the same decision”.

Saudi Arabia has signalled it is prepared to establish relations with Israel under a proposed US-brokered deal, with the strict condition of irrevocable steps towards Palestinian statehood.

Egypt, which has engaged in mediation efforts between Israel and Hamas, alongside Qatar and the US, also hailed yesterday’s move as a “welcome step”.

The announcement supports “international efforts to create a political horizon that can lead to the establishment of an independent Palestinian state”, the Egyptian statement said.

Important step Mediator Qatar similarly welcomed the announcement as an “important step in support of a two-state solution”, also expressing hope that other countries would do the same