Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares said on Monday that all EU members should immediately recognise a Palestinian state in a coordinated manner, saying this was the best way to end the conflict and prevent war from spreading throughout the region.
In an interview broadcast by Spanish public radio and television (RTVE), Albares reiterated that a “two-state solution” – Israel and a future Palestinian state – is the only way to achieve lasting peace in the long-running Middle East conflict, EFE reported.
The minister stressed that after Iran’s drone and rocket attacks on Israel on Saturday, it was more necessary than ever for EU countries that have not yet recognised a Palestinian state to waste no time in doing so as soon as possible.
“The situation is urgent and serious and this decision [to recognise a Palestinian state] must be taken in the short term,” Albares told RTVE.
Ireland, Malta and Slovenia also announced on 22 March their readiness to recognise a Palestinian state as “the only way to ensure peace and security” in the region.
Bulgaria, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Malta, Poland, Romania, Slovakia and Sweden are the nine EU member states that have now recognised a Palestinian state.
A few days ago, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez also announced that Spain could unilaterally recognise the state of Palestine this summer and expressed confidence that other EU partners would follow suit.
Albares recalled that on Monday the EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, had convened a meeting of all EU foreign ministers on Tuesday to adopt a common European position on the crisis.
“We all know what the solution is: a two-state solution,” the Spanish minister insisted, expressing confidence that this would be “the last time we see this spiral of violence”.
“We have been talking for months with all our Arab friends, European partners and allies,” Albares added, arguing that there are still days when countries must do everything possible to avoid escalation.
The minister also confirmed that Sánchez will continue his visits and contacts with European countries to gather support for the recognition of a Palestinian state as soon as possible.
Meanwhile, Portugal’s newly appointed Prime Minister Luis Montenegro told Sánchez at a meeting on Monday that Lisbon was not yet ready to recognise Palestine without a common EU approach.
