#Palestine / Norway, along with Ireland and Spain, to recognize Palestinian state (to be followed by Slovenia and Malta)
With over 140 UN member states now recognizing Palestine, the wave of European support signals growing impatience with the stalled peace process and a willingness to challenge U.S.-backed insistence on direct negotiations favoring Israel's position.
[...] "In the middle of a war, with tens of thousands of dead and injured, we must keep alive the only thing that can provide a safe home for both Israelis and Palestinians: two states that can live in peace with each other," --- Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere (#Norway)
Israel swiftly condemned the move, recalling its ambassadors from Norway and Ireland, and warning of "dire consequences" if Spain follows through. The Israeli Foreign Minister accused the countries of "undercutting Israel's sovereignty and endangering its security."
"We will support the efforts of the High Representative of the European Union and other countries that believe that some long-term, stable solution is needed," Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski said.
"And we believe that such a stable, long-term solution would be the existence of two states."
[cont’d] Norwegian Foreign Minister: We Decided to Recognize a Palestinian State Now Due to Netanyahu's Government's Policies
In an interview with Haaretz, Anniken Huitfeldt said that the government's position against negotiations with the Palestinians, its support for the establishment of settlements and its policies in the West Bank pushed her country and its partners to initiate the move now.
[…] "There is a feeling that with the current government, it is impossible to continue sitting and waiting for an agreement, […] This encourages countries to take action."
[…] "Our commitment to a two-state solution has existed for decades, but we always believed that it would come as a result of an agreement and mutual recognition,"
[…] "The current Israeli government is very clear in its position against negotiating (with the Palestinians), and this certainly influenced us, […] Some said we should have done this long ago."
Huitfeldt accused Netanyahu's current government of
[…] "supporting the establishment of new and illegal settlements, and an overall policy that distances an agreement in the West Bank."
In response to #Haaretz's question about the Israeli criticism that the three countries' decision is an achievement for Hamas, Huitfeldt said that in her view the opposite is true:
[…] "We want to strengthen the moderate forces in the Palestinian Authority and in Israel that support the two-state solution and are enemies of Hamas. We want to strengthen the anti-Hamas, and I hear reactions from Palestinians today telling me – 'This is an important step for those who oppose terror, oppose violence, and support a political solution.' That is our goal, to convey a message of support for the two-state solution, which Hamas does not support."
[…] Regarding the Israeli criticism that the recognition decision is a boon to Hamas, the Norwegian minister said he strongly disagreed. "Our aim is to support the moderate forces, the anti-Hamas, the Palestinians who support the two-state solution and the Oslo process, who oppose violence and want a peaceful settlement," he said.
[cont’d] as it seems to be the norm now, Israel is dictating Biden and the Republicans what they’re expected to do next…
#Ynet is reporting that while the ministry of foreign affairs is considering punitive measures against countries that will recognize a Palestinian state, they are also expected to turn to the American administration with a request that it approach the relevant countries and clarify the US opposition to the move.
Alongside this, Israel will request an American appeal to friendly countries to encourage them also to oppose recognition of a Palestinian state. Israel will also request a public statement from the administration.
In parallel, an appeal will be made to key figures in Congress requesting that they speak out publicly on the issue and approach the relevant countries, clarifying their opposition to the move.
Additionally, an appeal will be made to Jewish organizations in the #US to speak out publicly against recognition, and also to approach the relevant countries and express to them their strong opposition to the move.
[cont'd] Nabil Abu Rudeineh, the spokesperson for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, said the leadership welcomed the plans by Norway, Ireland and Spain to recognise a Palestinian state, saying he hoped other countries would follow suit.
Speaking from Ramallah in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, Rudeineh said the move was important for the sake of peace.
"Speaking from Ramallah in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, Rudeineh said the move was important for the sake of skimming off billions for the Leadership."
[cont'd] Why Ireland Is Recognizing the State of Palestine (Sonya McGuinness)
Sonya McGuinness is the Irish Ambassador to Israel.
[...] Ireland is recognizing a Palestinian state not out of hostility towards Israel but because we desperately want to see – and contribute to – a future where Israelis and Palestinians alike live in security and dignity.
[cont'd] Social Democrats leader Holly Cairns welcomed the decision, describing it as a “powerful move”.
“The scale of death and devastation is truly horrifying. That so much of the Western world has turned a blind eye to this carnage is shameful and it’s shocking.”
[cont'd] Israeli forces move deeper into Rafah in night of heavy battle
[...] Residents and militants said tanks had taken up new positions on Wednesday further west than before along the southern border fence with Egypt, and were now stationed on the edge of the Yibna neighbourhood at the centre of Rafah. They had not yet entered the district as fighting had been intense.
[cont'd] Ben Gvir in a genocidal rant on Haram al-Sharif this morning:
"We will not allow even a declaration of a Palestinian state. And I'll say one more thing: In order to destroy Hamas, we need to enter Rafah to the very end, to perform a root canal treatment. To get our captives back, we need to stop the fuel, to stipulate that humanitarian aid is only in exchange for humanitarian aid. And to control this place, the most important place."
He also inadvertently admitted the war in Gaza and the Hamas is about maintaining the occupation.
"From the holiest place for the people of Israel and which belongs only to the State of Israel, I say - this evening we will receive further evidence of why Hamas must be completely and totally destroyed."
Ben Gvir and the Israeli right-wing have a clear interest in framing and escalating a political conflict into an overtly religious conflict, especially right now.
[cont'd] Gallant declared the ineffective cancellation of the disengagement in northern Samaria [occupied West Bank], as the commanding officer prohibited the entry of Israelis into the area already in April
In March 2023, Israeli parliament passed the first reading of amendments to the 2005 Disengagement law. The proposed law allow illegal settlers to rebuild and re-occupy settlements in the occupied West Bank dismantled in 2005 as a part of Israel’s so-called unilateral Disengagement plan.