In 1980, Ireland became the initial EU member state to support Palestinian statehood, but it has taken almost 25 years for this endorsement to translate into official recognition. Micheál Martin revealed in the Dáil this Tuesday that Ireland, accompanied by several EU allies, will shortly acknowledge the Palestinian state, offering a significant diplomatic nod to the existing Palestinian administration in the West Bank. Moreover, this announcement sends a critical political rebuke to Israel over its Gaza warfare and reluctance to progress towards a two-state solution.
Despite Ireland’s parliament, the Oireachtas, enacting resolutions in 2014 urging the Government for an official acknowledgement of Palestine as a state, based on the 1967 borders and East Jerusalem as the capital (as laid out in UN resolutions), these actions did not bear fruit. The Government’s hesitance was driven by its desire to maintain a unified EU foreign policy, while concurrently striving to shift the Council of Ministers’ consensus towards a more Israel-critical stance. Ireland’s stance has been echoed by Spain, Slovenia, and Malta, who have also pledged to recognise Palestine.
Up until now, most EU nations agreed with Israel’s insistence that acknowledging Palestine would be precipitate, as it would determine the eventual compromise between Israel and Palestine in the context of the currently stagnant Oslo peace accords, which advocate a two-state solution. Lately, however, Israel has been disinclined to participate in negotiations.
Martin conveyed to the Dáil: “We have concurred that the erosion of the Oslo accords, and hence the agreement to establish two states, has progressed to a point where postponing recognition until a conclusive agreement is no longer feasible or realistic.” Furthermore, this decision subtly compels a reluctant Israel to recognise the Palestinian Authority’s role in overseeing Gaza after its withdrawal.