Ireland wants to recognize Palestine soon, but in a coordinated action with Spain and more European nations, the country’s Prime Minister Simon Harris said after meeting Sanchez in Dublin on Friday, Al Jazeera reported.
Earlier in the day, Sanchez traveled to Oslo, where Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store said his country also “stands ready” to recognize Palestine together with “like-minded countries”.
Sanchez said Spain wants to recognize Palestine “as soon as possible.”
The current efforts come as the mounting deaths, starvation and infrastructure damage in the besieged Gaza Strip due to Israel’s war have resulted in growing international criticism.
Within Europe, the concerns about Israel’s war on Gaza have also led to shifting positions – including more nations considering the possibility of recognizing Palestine.
Last month, Spain and Ireland announced alongside Malta and Slovenia that they would jointly work towards the recognition of a Palestinian state. They said they were “ready to recognize Palestine” in a move that would happen when “the circumstances are right”.
On Friday, after meeting Sanchez, Harris said, “Let me this evening say we assess that that point is coming much closer and we would like to move together in doing so.”
“The people of Palestine have long sought the dignity of their own country and sovereignty – a home that like Ireland and Spain can take its place amongst the nations of the Earth.”
SD/PR