Madrid, Spain – After Spain recognised Palestinian statehood, Pedro Sanchez met along with his Palestinian counterpart, Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa, and main officers from a number of Center Japanese international locations in Madrid.
Saudi Arabian Overseas Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, and the international ministers of Turkey and Jordan had been among the many group that later posed for a photograph on the steps of the Moncloa Palace within the Spanish capital.
“On behalf of President [Mahmoud] Abbas and the federal government of Palestine, the folks of Palestine, we warmly welcome Spain’s recognition of the state of Palestine,” Mustafa mentioned of Spain’s historic transfer. “This recognition strengthens our resolve to proceed our wrestle for a simply and lasting peace.”
Eire, Norway and Slovenia have additionally joined Spain within the push that has been roundly condemned by Israel.
Israeli Overseas Minister Israel Katz despatched a livid direct message addressed to Sanchez on X, writing: “Hamas thanks you in your service,” together with a 17-second video that flipped between photos of flamenco dancers and obvious scenes of the Palestinian group’s incursion into southern Israel on October 7.
.@sanchezcastejon, Hamas thanks you in your service. pic.twitter.com/Pkdp5diHRX
— ישראל כ”ץ Israel Katz (@Israel_katz) Might 26, 2024
He has accused Spain of complicity “in inciting genocide in opposition to Jews and struggle crimes” and known as Spain’s deputy prime minister, Yolanda Diaz, anti-Semitic after she closed a speech with the pro-Palestinian slogan “From the river to the ocean”.
Broadly used at pro-Palestinian demonstrations, the slogan refers back to the British mandate borders of Palestine, which stretched from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean earlier than Israel was created in 1948.
“It’s the yr 2024, the times of the Inquisition are over. Right this moment the Jewish folks have a sovereign and unbiased state, and nobody will power us to transform our faith or threaten our existence – those that hurt us, we are going to hurt them in return,” mentioned Katz, a member of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud get together.
For months, diplomatic relations between Israel and Spain have descended to new lows. All sides has summoned ambassadors because the struggle in Gaza rages.
After Spain’s landmark transfer, Israel ordered the Spanish consulate in Jerusalem to halt providers to Palestinians within the occupied West Financial institution as a “punitive” measure.
And tensions are sure to rise additional, as Spain on Thursday introduced it might be a part of South Africa’s genocide case earlier than the Worldwide Courtroom of Justice in opposition to Israel’s actions in Gaza.
Spain is the primary European nation to again the case.
Lengthy a supporter of Palestinian rights, Spain led the push in the direction of recognition hoping to pave a pathway to peace and a two-state resolution.
Sanchez mentioned the “historic choice … has a single purpose and that’s to assist Israelis and Palestinians obtain peace”.
In response to some observers, stress from Sumar, a far-left get together and the junior accomplice in Spain’s coalition authorities, had an influence on the ultimate choice by Sanchez, who additionally reportedly plans to host a global peace convention in Madrid.
However Manuel Muniz, dean of the Faculty of Politics, Economics and International Affairs on the IE College in Madrid, mentioned Israel could oppose Spain’s involvement in future peace talks.
“When it comes to the influence on Spain-Israel relations, it’s fairly evident that the short-term results are important,” he advised Al Jazeera.
“What stays unclear, is the influence that every one this can have in the long run. It in all probability means Israel will push again in opposition to Spanish involvement in future peace talks with the Palestinians. However this can rely on the character of the federal government in Israel.”
Isaias Barrenada Bajo, a specialist in relations between Spain and Palestine on the College of Complutense in Madrid, mentioned the unilateral recognition of the Palestinian state was the fruits of years of cross-party coverage in Spain.
In 2014, the Spanish parliament handed a movement to recognise the Palestinian state nevertheless it by no means got here to fruition.
“What has made the distinction now’s the struggle in Gaza and the stress of Sumar to recognise the Palestinian state,” he advised Al Jazeera.
Barrenada mentioned for the reason that demise of the dictator Basic Francisco Franco in 1975, all Spanish governments of differing political colors have supported Palestine’s proper to a state.
Away from the political area, fashionable opinion in Spain seems to favour backing a Palestinian state.
A survey for the Actual Elcano Institute, a suppose tank primarily based in Madrid, discovered 78 % of Spaniards favoured the popularity of Palestine, whereas 18 % had been in opposition to and 4 % didn’t know.
Jorge Hernandez, 42, a automobile firm government from Barcelona, believes Spain needed to act.
“America and Britain are doing nothing however the killing on each side goes on. Different international locations should do one thing. I don’t know if recognising Palestine will make any distinction, however we have now to place some stress so the combating stops,” he advised Al Jazeera.
However for Spain’s small Jewish inhabitants, estimated to quantity about 50,000, some say the ambiance has worsened since October 7.
On that day, Hamas led an incursion into southern Israel, throughout which 1,139 folks had been killed and 250 had been taken captive, that sharply escalated the historic Israel-Palestine battle.
Israel’s onslaught of Gaza since, by far its deadliest struggle on the besieged enclave, has killed greater than 36,000 Palestinians up to now, based on well being officers.
Israel’s justification for its army marketing campaign of crushing Hamas stays elusive.
Ruth Timon, 57, a Jewish lawyer from Madrid, says she avoids conversations about Gaza in case they blow up right into a row.
She mentioned her son has confronted verbal abuse on the Madrid college the place he’s a pupil.
She believes that Sanchez’s choice to recognise Palestine was motivated by home political elements.
Spain’s left-wing coalition authorities relies on smaller regional events for a majority however has did not cross this yr’s funds and different legal guidelines.
“Politically in Spain we’re in a sophisticated scenario. No legal guidelines have been handed. The federal government can not do something, so it issues itself with worldwide politics,” Timon advised Al Jazeera.
“Sanchez is specializing in Palestine and Ukraine forward of the European elections. [His] Socialist get together, I feel, believes supporting Palestine could carry assist within the European elections.”
