Spain threatens to make its own decision to recognize a Palestinian state

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said Madrid could make its own decision on recognizing a Palestinian state if the European Union does not do so.

During his visit to the Rafah border crossing in Egypt, Sanchez said that the current ceasefire in Gaza is not enough and that a permanent ceasefire must be implemented.

Spain, historically close to the Arab world, is trying to push for a position more favorable to Palestinian aspirations within the European Union.

Sanchez stressed during a meeting with his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem that “it is in Israel’s interest to work for peace, and peace today requires the creation of… a viable Palestinian state.”

Sanchez also met with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas on Thursday.

The man promised last week that his new government would work “in Europe and in Spain to recognize the Palestinian state”.

Sanchez is accompanied on his visit to Egypt by his Belgian counterpart, Alexander De Croo, who will succeed him as the rotating presidency of the European Union from 1 January.

Interestingly, in 2014 the Spanish Parliament adopted, almost unanimously, a non-binding resolution calling for the recognition of a Palestinian state.

Small European countries, such as Sweden, Malta, Romania and Hungary, recognized the Palestinian state. But so far no major European Union country has taken this step.

Sanchez’s visit comes as fighting between Israeli forces and Hamas stopped on Friday for the first time in seven weeks in a temporary truce ahead of the release of Israeli hostages held by the movement in exchange for the release of prisoners Palestinians.