Palestinian Prime Minister Believes Recognition of Palestinian State by Three European Countries Could Lead to Further Support

The prime minister of the Palestinian Authority, Mohammad Mustafa, expressed optimism on Sunday as Spain, Ireland, and Norway announced their recognition of a Palestinian state. Mustafa, who was in Brussels for a meeting with international donors, welcomed the support from these countries and hoped that other European nations would follow suit.

“We obviously want to have every country in Europe do the same,” Mustafa stated during a news conference in Brussels alongside Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares. He emphasized the importance of this recognition in keeping the peace process alive in the region.

The decision by Spain, Ireland, and Norway to formally recognize a Palestinian state comes in the wake of Israel’s Gaza offensive following an attack by Hamas. This move is seen as a step towards securing a halt to the violence and reviving peace talks that have been stalled for a decade.

However, the recognition of a Palestinian state has sparked controversy, with Israel condemning it as a “prize for terrorism.” Despite this, Mustafa outlined three key priorities for his authority moving forward – supporting the people of Gaza, building state institutions, and stabilizing the financial situation.

The Middle East conflict has exposed differing views within the European Union, with some diplomats cautioning against recognizing Palestinian statehood at this time. Nonetheless, Mustafa remains hopeful that the support from Spain, Ireland, and Norway will encourage other European countries to take the “necessary courageous step” towards recognizing a Palestinian state.