Israel furious as European trio recognises Palestinian state

Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez is applauded by MPs and members of Government after delivering a speech to announce that Spain will recognise Palestine as a state on May 28, at the Congress of Deputies in Madrid on May 22, 2024. 

Israel reacted with fury after three European countries said Wednesday they would recognise a Palestinian state, more than seven months into the devastating Gaza war.

Ireland, Norway and Spain said they would formally recognise the State of Palestine on May 28, drawing praise from many Arab and Muslim states.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the move amounted to a "reward for terror", after Hamas launched its Oct. 7 attack which sparked the Gaza war.

Israel said it was recalling its envoys to Dublin, Oslo and Madrid for "urgent consultations" and also summoned the three European ambassadors for a rebuke.

European Union foreign affairs chief Josep Borrell posted on X that he would work with the bloc's 27 members "to promote a common EU position based on a 2-state solution".

Israel's far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, on his first visit since Oct. 7 to the contested religious site of the Temple Mount in the Old City of Israeli-annexed east Jerusalem, said the recognition rewarded "murderers and aggressors".

His visits to the site — known as the Al-Aqsa mosque compound to Muslims — have been cited by Hamas as one reason for the group's October attack on Israel, which it called "Al-Aqsa Flood".

The White House said President Joe Biden opposed unilateral recognition of a Palestinian state, saying it should be realised "through direct negotiations".

Biden's National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan warned Israel not to withhold funding...