Spain, Ireland and other EU partners could recognise Palestinian statehood on 21 May – report

Spain is neither confirming nor denying reports that it will join Ireland and “other EU partners” in recognising Palestine as a state on 21 May – a move that would see Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez’s PSOE follow the demand of coalition partner Sumar.

The news comes after Irish public broadcaster RTE reported on Wednesday (8 May) that Ireland, Spain and “other EU partners” could recognise the “State of Palestine” on 21 May – information it said it had verified “with two different sources” who both agreed that this date was the most likely date for the move.

Spain, for its part, confirmed that it will recognise Palestine as a state “very soon”, with Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares (PSOE/S&D) declining to comment explicitly on RTE‘s report.

“The decisions of the Council of Ministers are never anticipated. We are talking to some of our European colleagues to analyse the best moment to make this recognition. You will know it by the decision of the Council of Ministers,” Albares told the press on the sidelines of an official event as part of the Europe Day celebrations in Madrid, together with EU diplomatic chief Josep Borrell.

Albares also said that Spain would grant its recognition “out of justice” and “pure humanity” because the Palestinian people cannot remain “a people of refugees”.

Albares also confirmed that Spain would vote in favour of Palestine becoming a full UN member at the upcoming UN General Assembly on Friday (10 May), adding that he would also speak with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Washington that day.

A symbolic date

The date chosen by both Ireland and Spain for the official recognition is also highly symbolic.

Indeed, it could come just 48 hours before the start of the campaign for the European Parliament elections, which in Spain are on 9 June.

Until Thursday, it was not known in official circles in Madrid which EU countries would join the initiative, which, according to RTE, is led not only by Spain and Ireland but also by Slovenia and Malta.

These four countries signed a joint declaration on 22 March supporting the recognition of Palestine as a state as a way of contributing to the two-state solution as the only “viable” political alternative to end the longstanding Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

To date, 141 countries have recognised the Palestinian state.

In the European Union, nine countries currently recognise the Palestinian state: Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Hungary, Malta, Poland, Romania, Slovakia and Sweden.

Calling on companies to avoid contributing to the “genocide” 

At the same time, Sumar MP Enrique Santiago on Thursday defended Spanish Social Rights Minister Pablo Bustinduy after a controversial letter published on Wednesday (8 May) in which the senior official called on Spanish companies with investments in Israel to take measures to avoid contributing to the “genocide” in Gaza.

In an interview with the La Cafetera podcast, Santiago (who is also general secretary of the Communist Party) warned Spanish companies with investments in the occupied Palestinian territories that they could face legal action in Spain if they violate international humanitarian law and the criminal code.

Bustinduy only reminded “them of the obvious” and did the Spanish companies with activities in Israel “a favour” so that they do not commit possible violations of international law, Santiago added.

In an interview with the podcast La Cafetera, Santiago (also Secretary General of the Communist Party), warned Spanish companies with investments in the occupied Palestinian territories that they could face legal action in Spain if they violate international humanitarian law and the Penal Code. 

Meanwhile, Borrell also responded to US President Joe Biden‘s warning to Israel should it invade Rafah, saying on Thursday that “the only way not to drop bombs is not to have them”, EFE reported.

Borrell was referring to Biden’s threat that the US would cut off supplies of offensive weapons to Tel Aviv if Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu went ahead with an invasion of Rafah.

[Edited by Daniel Eck]

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