International – quite a symbol. Ireland, Spain and Norway announced this Wednesday, May 22, the upcoming recognition of a Palestinian state, scheduled for May 28. The only credible path to peace and security for Israel and Palestine “. They join Slovenia, which already started the process on May 9 with a ratification decree that it plans to send to parliament for approval by June 13.

After these announcements, Israel immediately announced its withdrawal “for consideration” of Ambassadors in Dublin and Oslo. She recalled her ambassador to Spain from late November to January. “Today's decision sends a message to Palestinians and the world: terrorism pays” After Hamas's unprecedented attack on Israel on October 7, Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz was outraged.

As part of that, Hamas saluted him “Principal Stage”, The Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) spoke “Historic Moments”. But crucially, in the current situation, what difference does it make to the recognition of Palestine by these three countries?

A simple symbolic significance, but an important one

In itself, “This announcement only, remains limited in scope”Judge Hugh Lovatt, Middle East Specialist at the European Foreign Affairs Council, quoted the world. ” We create a state not by accepting a state », agrees Douglas Proudfoot, former Canadian ambassador to Ramallah in the occupied West Bank. Radio-Canada.

But this initiative is not useless, on the contrary. ” The recognition of a Palestinian state is purely symbolic. “Sometimes symbols are very important.” This underscores the former Canadian ambassador's assertion that it is putting a certain amount of pressure on Israel. Besides understanding him” There is a limit to patience “.

The recognition of a Palestinian state by Dublin, Madrid and Oslo is a fresh setback for Tel Aviv, which has been following them for weeks. This comes twelve days after the United Nations General Assembly voted in favor of Palestine becoming a full member state of the United Nations. A few days after the International Criminal Court's (ICC) prosecutor's request for arrest warrants against Benjamin Netanyahu, his defense minister and three Hamas leaders.

A reward for Hamas and terrorism?

Regarding Israel's accusations of rewarding Hamas and terrorism, according to political scientist Sami Aoun, they are baseless. Quoted Radio-CanadaHe believes that recognizing a Palestinian state would above all embarrass Hamas, even if it certainly welcomes the May 22 decision.

Indeed, this recognition revives the idea of ​​a two-state solution for Palestine and Israel, advocated by the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Jordan and Egypt. However, according to Sami Aoun, the Islamist movement ” Wants a long treaty with the Israelis, but still refuses to recognize Israel as a nation “. Therefore,” If the international community officially recognizes a Palestinian state, Hamas will be stuck “, he believes.

Those who say this recognition of a Palestinian state will benefit Hamas “ fake “, assures former Ambassador Douglas Proudfoot Radio-Canada Who would believe that” People who say that don't understand the situation “.

Worldwide recognition of the Palestinian state

To date, 139 of the 193 UN member states, mainly Arab countries, but also Asian, African and South American countries, recognize the State of Palestine with East Jerusalem as its capital.

In the European Union, apart from the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Bulgaria, Romania and Cyprus, only Sweden, which has a large Palestinian community, did so in 2014.

Several Western European countries, including the United States, Canada, Australia and Germany, as well as South Korea and Japan, do not recognize Palestine but still maintain diplomatic relations with the Palestinian Authority.

“Not forbidden” to France

As for France, the French foreign minister judged that Paris had not met the conditions to follow Spain and Ireland. In February, Paris took a notable diplomatic step by raising the possibility of unilateral recognition in the absence of Israel's desire to achieve a negotiated two-state solution.

“This decision should be useful, i.e. allow a decisive step at the political level” And will not raise “Only a symbolic question or a matter of political positioning”Stefan Sejorne said in a written statement to AFP.

“Recognition of a Palestinian state is not a taboo for FranceEmmanuel assured Macron when he received Jordan's King Abdullah II at the Elysée on February 16. We owe it to the Palestinians, whose aspirations have been trampled for too long. We owe it to the Israelis who suffered the greatest anti-Semitic massacre of our century. »

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