Thank you to Ireland, Norway and Spain

[Scirocco]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/world-69047220

At a time when justice, empathy and integrity seem to be in short supply, a little light in the darkness.

Link to the BBC Live page covering statements announcing that the countries will recognise a Palestinian state on 28th May.

https://www.rte.ie/news/2024/0522/1450532-palestinian-recognition/

It is great news and I hope other countries follow their lead.

Ireland's Parliament (the Dáil) agreed to it 10 years ago so they've taken their time!

Delighted that we’ll be recognising Palestine but sad that it has taken this to get us to it. Considering Ireland has long supported Palestine, you’d think it would have happened long ago.

Very proud to be Irish, should have happened a long time ago but we got there in the end ❤️

So happy to hear this. Let's hope others will follow suit!

I remember when the Sinn Féin motion passed 10 years ago to recognise the State of Palestine. It's quite shameful that it took a genocide in Palestine for the government to finally take action, but we got there in the end.

Great news! I hope France follows soon.

A predictably batshit response from the Israeli Minister for Foreign Affairs. Here's the text of his statement:

I have instructed the immediate recall of Israel’s ambassadors to Ireland and Norway for consultations in light of these countries' decisions to recognize a Palestinian state.

I’m sending a clear and unequivocal message to Ireland and Norway: Israel will not remain silent in the face of those undermining its sovereignty and endangering its security.

Today’s decision sends a message to the Palestinians and the world: Terrorism pays. After the Hamas terror organization carried out the largest massacre of Jews since the Holocaust, after committing heinous sexual crimes witnessed by the world, these countries chose to reward Hamas and Iran by recognizing a Palestinian state.

This distorted step by these countries is an injustice to the memory of the victims of 7/10, a blow to efforts to return the 128 hostages, and a boost to Hamas and Iran's jihadists, which undermines the chance for peace and questions Israel’s right to self-defense.

Israel will not remain silent - there will be further severe consequences. If Spain follows through on its intention to recognize a Palestinian state, a similar step will be taken against it.

The Irish-Norwegian folly does not deter us; we are determined to achieve our goals: restoring security to our citizens, dismantling Hamas, and bringing the hostages home. There are no more just causes than these.

I'm delighted the ambassador has been sent home. I hope she stays there. She's been telling outrageous lies, mostly unchallenged, on Irish media since October. I only wish she'd been expelled by Ireland.

I am sure these countries are quivering with fear.

We’ll finally be rid of the Israeli ambassador?

Dont threaten me with a good time. All these months of her bitching and sniping at the nation, and all we needed to do was this. Wonderful.

@ConnieCounter What a batshit response like you said.

"If Spain follows through on its intention to recognize a Palestinian state, a similar step will be taken against it." - What does he mean by this exactly? That he'll recall Israeli ambassadors? I'm sure they'll be delighted.

Exactly 😂

From people I know vaguely in Foreign Affairs, no one will be weeping into their soup that Dana Erlich is off home.

Agree, as a diplomat she was extremely undiplomatic. I come from a family of people that have worked in the diplomatic services and they would have been recalled long ago if they spoke about the country they were ambassador in like she's spoken about Ireland and the Irish

Interesting,

So can someone tell me where the State of Palestine is, geographically?

"The PLO is internationally recognised as the main representative of Palestinians."

So what is it doing to help the people of Gaza?

And how will the recognition of Palestine help to stop the war against Hamas and bring Israeli hostages home?

I wonder if how you would have felt had the Irish government recognised the ISIS Caliphate? Hamas is no different.

@Rocknrollstar The civilians of Palestine are not Hamas. Stop conflating the two.

I have to say, this doesn't represent the view of every person in Ireland - I for one was never asked my opinion on this.
Just because the government declares something, doesn't mean we are all in favour of it.

But they're not recognising Hamas are they? They're recognising Palestine, completely different

Well obviously! That goes for any government decision on any policy. The state of Ireland recognises Palestine

I for one was never asked my opinion on this.
Why would you be? It was voted on in the Dáil 10 years ago which is a democratically elected government.

Of course you don't have to be in favour of it nobody asked you to be, this thread is for people who are in favour of it

@UntiltheGirl "You might need to think about what you actually said there and give yourself a good, hard smack."

This made me laugh!

Sorry but exactly what area is Norway, Spain and Ireland recognising as the Palestinian State?

If it is the West Bank and Gaza then most of the world already recognises Palestine as a state. Earlier this month, 143 of the 193 members of the United Nations General Assembly voted in favour of Palestine joining the UN - something only states can do.

Even the US supports the recognition of a Palestinian State (under a two state solution) provided this is through a negotiated settlement with Israel.

I don't understand the significance of this announcement or how it changes anything?