Hommam Al Nassim 
Three European countries announced on Wednesday their decision to recognize the Palestinian state, in parallel with Norway’s announcement that it had implemented a criminal court order against Netanyahu, Galant and Hamas leaders to arrest them if they arrived in the country.
Irish Prime Minister Simon Harris announced his country’s recognition of the Palestinian state, expressing confidence that “more countries will join us in this step in the coming weeks.”
Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gare Storre said his country would be known as a Palestinian state from May 28, stressing that “there can be no peace in the Middle East if there is no recognition” of the Palestinian state.
For his part, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez announced to Spanish deputies, “Next Tuesday, May 28, Spain will approve in the Council of Ministers the recognition of the Palestinian state.”
The Palestinian Presidency welcomed the announcements issued by the three countries, noting that this step contributes to the consecration of the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination on their land and to take actual steps to support the implementation of the two-state solution.
Israel recalled its ambassadors to Ireland and Norway for “emergency consultations” after those countries moved towards recognition of the state of Palestine, with Foreign Minister Israel Katz indicating that his country would not remain silent and there would be serious consequences.
Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Eide said on Tuesday that his country is committed to arresting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu if he visits Norway after a decision by the International Criminal Court, noting that all signatory countries must act in accordance with the decision of the International Court and Norway.
ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan announced last Monday that the court was seeking to issue arrest warrants for three Hamas leaders, Ismail Haniyeh, Yahya Sinwar and Mohammed Deif, as well as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Galant on war crimes charges.
An ICC panel of judges is currently considering a request by its prosecutor, Karim Khan, to issue arrest warrants.
It is noteworthy that 9 member countries of the European Union recognize the State of Palestine: Bulgaria, Poland, Czechia, Romania, Slovakia, Hungary, Cyprus, Malta and Sweden, and today 3 new countries are added.
Currently, 140 of the 193 UN member states recognize Palestine as an independent state, including Russia, and there are embassies and permanent missions to Palestine in 95 countries around the world.
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