Advertisement
Europe-Israel relations plummet as Spain, Ireland prepare to recognise a Palestinian state
- Spain, Ireland and Norway plan to make official their recognition of a Palestinian state on Tuesday
- Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz accused Spain of ‘rewarding terror’ by recognising a Palestinian state
Reading Time:3 minutes
Why you can trust SCMP
4
Relations between the European Union and Israel took a nosedive on Monday, the eve of the diplomatic recognition of a Palestinian state by EU members Ireland and Spain, with Madrid insisting that sanctions should be considered against Israel for its continued deadly attacks in southern Gaza’s city of Rafah.
Advertisement
Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz told Spain that its consulate in Jerusalem will not be allowed to help Palestinians.
At the same time, the EU’s foreign policy chief Josep Borrell threw his weight to support the International Criminal Court, whose prosecutor is seeking an arrest warrant against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and others, including leaders of the Hamas militant group.
“The prosecutor of the court has been strongly intimidated and accused of antisemitism – as always when anybody, anyone does something that Netanyahu’s government does not like,” Borrell said. “The word antisemitic, it’s too heavy. It’s too important.”
Spain, Ireland and Norway plan to make official their recognition of a Palestinian state on Tuesday.
Advertisement
Advertisement