Ireland recognises State of Palestine despite Israel’s objections

Ireland has announced plans to officially recognise a Palestinian state.

It comes as the three leaders of the coalition government – Taoiseach Simon Harris, Tánaiste Micheál Martin and Green Party Minister Eamon Ryan – held a press conference at Government buildings in Dublin on Wednesday morning.

Mr Harris said that it was an “important and historic day for Ireland and for Palestine”.

Israel have recalled their envoys to Ireland, claiming that Ireland’s decision will encourage terrorism and more instability.

Norway and Spain have also announced on Wednesday that they will recognise a Palestinian state.

Currently, eight EU member states recognise Palestinian statehood, the most recent being Sweden in 2014.

It comes just days after the International Criminial Court applied for arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Hamas’s leader in Gaza, Yahya Sinwar, for war crimes.

Speaking on Wednesday, Mr Harris said that he was “confident that further countries will join us in taking this important step in the coming weeks”.

He said that a two-state solution, whereby independent Israeli and Palestinian states exist side-by-side, was the “the only credible path to peace and security”.

Referencing the foundation of the Irish state, Mr Harris said “from our own history we know what it means, recognition is an act of powerful political and symbolic value”.

Also on Wednesday morning, Israel announced it would recall its envoys to Ireland and Norway “for urgent consultations”.

“I am sending Ireland and Norway a clear message: Israel will not back down against those who undermine its sovereignty and endanger its security,” foreign minister Israel Katz said.