Irish Prime Minister Simon Harris (Wikipedia)
Ireland and Norway Tuesday declared their respective recognitions of Palestine as an independent state. The two nations made their announcements shortly after the government of Spain did so first on Tuesday morning.
The government of Ireland issued a statement saying, “Ireland recognizes the State of Palestine in the spirit of peace in a coordinated announcement with our friends and colleagues in Spain and Norway.”
Norway also said that it agreed to establish full diplomatic relations between Dublin and Ramallah (the seat of the Palestinian Authority) and that an Ambassador of Ireland to the State of Palestine will be appointed along with a full Embassy of Ireland in Ramallah.
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“This is an important moment and I think it sends a signal to the world that there are practical actions you can take as a country to help keep the hope and destination of a two-state solution alive at a time when others are trying to sadly bomb it into oblivion,” Irish Prime Minister Simon Harris said of the recognition.
“This decision of Ireland is about keeping hope alive. It is about believing that a two-state solution is the only way for Israel and Palestine to live side by side in peace and security,” he added. “We had wanted to recognize Palestine at the end of a peace process however we have made this move alongside Spain and Norway to keep the miracle of peace alive. I again call on Prime Minister Netanyahu of Israel to listen to the world and stop the humanitarian catastrophe we are seeing in Gaza.”
The government of Norway stated that the territorial demarcation between the state of Palestine and the state of Israel should be based on the pre-1967 borders (before the Six Day War) and that Jerusalem should serve as the capital of both states.
“The Norwegian Government has decided that Norway will recognize Palestine as a state. In the midst of a war, with tens of thousands killed and injured, we must keep alive the only alternative that offers a political solution for Israelis and Palestinians alike: Two states, living side by side, in peace and security,” said Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre.
He added that recognition of Palestine is a “means of supporting the moderate forces which have been losing ground in this protracted and brutal conflict” and that by making the move Norway is sending a “strong message to other countries to follow.”
Prime Minister Støre also said he believes this could make it possible to resume the process towards “achieving a two-state solution and give it renewed momentum.”
Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide added in a statement that “for more than 30 years, Norway has been one of the strongest advocates for a Palestinian state. Today, when Norway officially recognizes Palestine as a state, is a milestone in the relationship between Norway and Palestine.”
