“An invitation to the rest of the countries” Arab and Islamic welcome to European recognition of the State of Palestine

-
The decision of Norway, Ireland, and Spain, today (Wednesday), to officially recognize a Palestinian state, was welcomed by Arab and Islamic countries, most notably Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Qatar, Jordan, and the Gulf Cooperation Council, as well as Palestinian movements and organizations.

The Gulf Cooperation Council, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt welcomed the decision, which will take effect on May 28.

The Gulf Cooperation Council statement quoted its Secretary-General, Jassim Mohammed Al-Budaiwi, as saying that the decision of the three countries to recognize the State of Palestine represents a “pivotal and strategic step towards achieving the two-state solution.”

He added that the decision is also "a strong motivation for all countries to take similar steps to recognize the State of Palestine, which will contribute to the Palestinian people obtaining all their rights and living in peace, justice and independence, after many years of injustice, oppression, serious violations and living under the oppression of the Israeli occupation forces."

The statement called on the international community, with all its institutions and organizations, to play its role in "supporting the Palestinian people to obtain the full right to establish their state."

Al-Budaiwi reiterated, according to the statement, “the firm and firm position” of the Gulf Cooperation Council in its support of the Palestinian issue, and reaching a solution based on “ending the Israeli occupation and establishing an independent Palestinian state on the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital,” in accordance with the relevant United Nations resolutions and the initiative. Arab Peace (launched by the late Saudi King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz at the Beirut Summit in 2002).

An inherent right of the Palestinian people

For its part, the Saudi Foreign Ministry described the decision of the three European countries as “positive towards the sister state of Palestine.”

It said in its statement: “The Kingdom appreciates this decision issued by friendly countries, which confirms the international consensus on the inherent right of the Palestinian people to self-determination.”

Saudi Arabia called on the rest of the countries, especially the permanent members of the UN Security Council, to “urgently” take the same decision, to contribute to finding “a reliable and irreversible path that achieves a just and lasting peace that fulfills the rights of the Palestinian people,” according to the same statement.

Egypt calls on the rest of the countries to take this step

In a statement by its Foreign Ministry, Egypt also described the decision as “an appreciated step that supports international efforts aimed at creating a political horizon that leads to the establishment of an independent Palestinian state on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital.”

Cairo called on countries that have not yet taken this step to "move forward towards recognizing the State of Palestine, in order to uphold the values ​​of justice and fairness, and in support of the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people who have suffered from the Israeli occupation for more than 7 decades."

Egypt renewed its call on the UN Security Council and influential international parties for the “necessity of immediate intervention” to preserve the rights of the Palestinian people in this delicate circumstance that the Palestinian issue is going through, and to deal with the required responsibility with the dangerous humanitarian conditions witnessed in the Gaza Strip, according to the same source.

An invitation to more countries

In turn, the Qatari Foreign Ministry considered, in a statement, recognition of the State of Palestine “an important step to support the two-state solution and achieve peace and stability in the region.”

She said that achieving comprehensive and just peace in the region “depends” on the establishment of an independent Palestinian state on the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.

In its statement, the Ministry stressed "the necessity of ending the war on the Gaza Strip immediately, and returning to the political track as the only guarantor of achieving stability in the region."

The statement conveyed Qatar's hope that more countries would recognize the State of Palestine and strengthen efforts aimed at implementing the two-state solution.

agitation

Today (Wednesday), the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) welcomed the announcement by Norway, Ireland and Spain of recognition of the State of Palestine, describing it as “an important step on the path to consolidating our right to our land and establishing our independent Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital.”

In a statement, the movement called on the countries of the world to "recognize our (the Palestinian people's) legitimate national rights, support our struggle for liberation and independence, and end the Zionist occupation of our land."

"Historical moment"

For its part, the Palestine Liberation Organization welcomed the recognition of the State of Palestine by European countries and saw the step of Ireland, Norway and Spain as “historic.”

The Secretary of the Executive Committee of the PLO, Hussein Al-Sheikh, wrote on his account on the

"An important step"

In turn, the Secretary-General of the Arab League, Ahmed Aboul Gheit, on Wednesday praised the recognition of the State of Palestine by Norway, Ireland and Spain, calling on the countries that do not recognize it to follow the example of the three countries.

Aboul Gheit said in a post on his account on the

"Important decision"

Jordan also welcomed the decision of European countries to recognize the State of Palestine, and Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi praised the decision during a joint press conference with Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Peter Szijjarto.

Al-Safadi stressed: “We welcome the decision of Norway and other countries to recognize the State of Palestine, and we value such decisions, which are confirmation of the path to peace and the two-state solution. The decision is important and we hope that it will be part of a broader solution.”

"Historic step"

In turn, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation welcomed the decision, and said in a statement today (Wednesday) that this important historic step “is consistent with international law and relevant United Nations resolutions, and contributes to affirming the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people and strengthening the position of the State of Palestine on the international arena.” .

The organization renewed its call on all countries of the world that have not yet recognized the State of Palestine to take the initiative to announce this recognition “and to support the request of the State of Palestine for full membership in the United Nations, within the framework of supporting international efforts aimed at achieving peace and stability in the region in accordance with the vision of the two-state solution, and based on resolutions.” Relevant international legitimacy and the Arab Peace Initiative.”

Earlier Wednesday, Norway, Ireland and Spain simultaneously announced, in response to a political campaign led by Madrid, officially recognizing the State of Palestine in accordance with international law and relevant Security Council resolutions, confirming that the resolution will enter into force on May 28.

The decision comes more than 8 months after a fierce Israeli war against the Gaza Strip, which resulted in the martyrdom of tens of thousands of civilians, the majority of them women and children, in addition to major destruction of infrastructure and major facilities.

It is worth noting that 8 member countries of the European Union recognize the State of Palestine: Bulgaria, Poland, the Czech Republic, Romania, Slovakia, Hungary, Sweden, and southern Cyprus.

Palestine is an observer state in the United Nations, but it is not a member, according to the resolution of the United Nations General Assembly on November 29, 2012.​​​​​​