from Brussels – The coordinated move by Spain, Ireland and Norway to unilaterally recognize the Palestinian state sparked European political controversy two weeks before the vote in the European Union. Motivated by the announcement in particular, it seems that a section of the European left in particular sees, after months of continuous and urgent demonstrations in the squares and universities of the continent in favor of Palestine, a good opportunity to mobilize discontent and score some points in the elections. In the context of unhappy opinion polls in almost all countries. But the center-left front in Europe is divided over the times and methods by which this process will be carried out, taking into account that Israel currently considers unilateral recognitions as a “gift to Hamas”, and that the US administration led by Joe Biden also opposes this. strategy.

Schultz warned, and Schmidt ran forward

Yesterday Eli Schlein was among the first progressive leaders from other countries to join the Spanish-led initiative. “That's good, now it's Italy's turn.” But if other centre-left parties in southern Europe seem to share this enthusiasm, the German Social Democrats are certainly more lukewarm. The government in Berlin, led by Social Democrat Olaf Scholz, stressed that “each country takes its own position” and that an independent state of Palestine remains the goal of German foreign policy, but in the context of a two-state solution “that gives” Palestinians and Israelis a life in peace, next to each other. Reason, reply to OpensThe Secretary General of the PSE party, the Italian Giacomo Filipec, refused to explicitly support the initiative of Pedro Sanchez and the others: “We are with the two peoples, the two-state solution, so we definitely want to see a Palestinian state finally born.” It is the lowest common denominator on which progressives in the European Union stand. A few minutes before the start of the television debate between… The most prominent candidate However, among the main European parties, we also posed the question directly to representatives of the left. The candidate for the presidency of the European Commission of the Socialists, Luxembourgian Nicolas Schmidt, has made it clear that he views the initiative of Spain, Ireland and Norway positively. “It is a very brave decision,” he replied with a broad smile when asked. Opens Upon his arrival at the European Parliament in Brussels.

The radical left challenges Israel

As for the radical left, the position not only on the side of the Palestinians, but also against Israel, is certainly clearer. Immediately after the government announced the initiative, Deputy Prime Minister Yolanda Díaz, leader of the radical left in Somar, posted a long video on social media in which she claimed that the measure (which should be formalized on May 28) does exactly that slogan that has been repeated since Most famous in the squares and universities of half of Europe: “Palestine will be liberated from the river to the sea.” The slogan has been severely criticized not only by the Israeli government, but also by those fighting for peace and coexistence between the two peoples, because it effectively refers to erasing Israel from the map, to make room for Palestine alone. Therefore, we asked the candidate for the presidency of the European Union Commission of that political family, the Austrian Walter Baer, ​​whether he supports not only the decision of the three governments, but also this slogan. “I consider the decision of the governments of Spain, Ireland and Norway to recognize Palestine as a state a step forward. “It is a good thing, but it does not change the situation on the ground.” Opens On the first node. As for the logo From the river to the seaTurning the discussion around, he added: “I would say that the Israeli government and the Israeli army are the ones currently working from the river to the sea.” Let us then conclude that the European left wants, however, “to see two states in peaceful coexistence, which means sharing the land that is Palestine.”

Who recognizes (and who doesn't) Palestine?

Currently, there are eleven countries in the European Union that recognize the Palestinian state. Before Spain, Ireland and Norway, Malta, Cyprus, Poland, Hungary, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Romania and Bulgaria had done so. In 1999, in the final report to the European Council in Berlin, the European Union declared its readiness “to recognize a Palestinian state at the appropriate time.” At the global level, there are 142 countries in the United Nations that recognize Palestine, or about 70% of the total members of the United Nations. Notable absentees include the United States, Canada, Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, France and Italy.

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