The Spanish government has officially recognized Palestine as a sovereign state.
The announcement was made by Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares during a press conference following a meeting of the Council of Ministers.
“Today at the Council of Ministers, we decided to recognize the State of Palestine,” Albares stated. He added that this is the only way to achieve peace in the Middle East.
Spain’s recognition of Palestine follows similar decisions by Ireland and Norway. This collective recognition has prompted a strong reaction from Israel.
The Israeli Foreign Ministry announced the recall of its ambassadors from Dublin, Madrid, and Oslo for consultations. At the same time, the heads of the diplomatic missions of Ireland, Spain, and Norway in Israel were summoned to the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs for a formal demarche.
With Spain's decision, over 140 of the 193 United Nations member states now recognize Palestine as a state.
