Spain seeks international support to recognize Palestine as soon as possible

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has embarked on a two-day official visit to Poland, Norway, and Ireland with the intention of acting in concert with other countries in the European Union (EU) to recognize the Palestinian state.

Sanchez traveled to Warsaw today to discuss the EU's new strategic plan, where he met with Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk and European Council President Charles Michel.

Sources from the Spanish Prime Ministry announced that Sanchez will hold meetings in Norway and Ireland tomorrow to seek support for the process of recognizing Palestine.

"SHOWS THAT WE CANNOT WAIT ANY LONGER"

Meanwhile, Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares stated in an interview with the Spanish radio station Onda Cero, "We are working to find the best day to recognize the Palestinian state together with other European countries. The gravity of the situation in Palestine shows that we cannot wait any longer to recognize the Palestinian state."

Expressing that they are trying to decide on the date for the recognition of the Palestinian state both in the Council of Ministers and in their meetings with European partners, Albares said, "We are clear that this should happen in the short term."

Noting that Spain does not have to wait for a joint EU decision to recognize the Palestinian state and that it can do so as a "sovereign state," Albares added, "What is happening in Gaza is not a matter of ideology, but a matter of humanity. We are talking about 2.2 million people who are in a humanitarian, critical, and catastrophic situation."

Prime Minister Sanchez had said in a speech to Parliament this week, "Spain is ready to recognize the Palestinian state."

The Spanish government, which is conducting intense diplomacy to organize an international peace conference based on a two-state solution for the Middle East conflict, has pledged to recognize the Palestinian state before the summer.

News Source: AA