Spain, Norway, and Ireland have announced their recognition of the State of Palestine, and it is expected that other countries will join this movement in the coming weeks. What is the significance of this step? Approximately 140 of the 193 member states of the United Nations recognize the Palestinian state, with Sweden being the first EU country to do so in October 2014.
Although dozens of countries already recognize Palestine as an independent state, the recent momentum, especially among European nations, will have important implications in the near future. According to Western media reports, the most significant aspect is that these new recognitions indicate a diminishing "monopoly" of the United States over the Israeli-Palestinian peace process since the Oslo Accords in 1993.
Hugh Lovatt from the European Council on Foreign Relations mentioned in an interview with the British newspaper "Guardian" that this new path could open "a way towards establishing a Palestinian state". He added, "Recognition is a tangible step towards a viable political process leading to Palestinian self-determination."
Conversely, some believe that this series of recognitions might be a double-edged sword for the Palestinian Authority, led by Mahmoud Abbas. Any expectations that these recent recognitions will change the dire conditions in the occupied West Bank, where attacks by Israeli forces and settlers have increased, may be premature. The "recognition signifies the right to self-determination for Palestinians, which could also help revitalize Palestinian civil society that has stifled under Abbas' leadership," according to the "Guardian".
What are the implications of these recognitions for Israel? These recognitions came after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant were informed that the International Criminal Court's prosecutor is seeking arrest warrants against them for war crimes. Israel is being investigated at the request of South Africa for alleged genocide in the International Court of Justice.
At the same time, the United States, Britain, and other countries have begun imposing sanctions against violent settlers and the extremist right-wing groups supporting them. It is believed that these developments will lead Israelis to realize that their country is increasingly being treated as a pariah and may gradually find itself in diplomatic isolation, according to the "Guardian".
These sentiments could lead to "sudden divisions within Netanyahu's government, raising serious questions about how long his government can last."
