Norway, Ireland, Spain say will recognize Palestinian state

Norway, Spain, and Ireland will recognize Palestine as a state as of May 28, Prime Ministers Jonas Gahr Store, Pedro Sanchez and Simon Harris said Wednesday, despite warnings from the Israeli government.

"Next Tuesday, May 28, Spain's cabinet will approve the recognition of the Palestinian state," Sanchez said, adding that his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu was putting the two state solution in "danger" with his policy of "pain and destruction" in the Gaza Strip.

"Today, Ireland, Norway and Spain are announcing that we recognize the state of Palestine," Harris said in a joint announcement with Oslo and Madrid. "This is an historic and important day for Ireland and for Palestine," he added.

Israel had recalled its envoys from Ireland and Norway for "urgent consultations" Wednesday ahead of the two governments' expected moves to formally recognize a Palestinian state.

"Today, I am sending a sharp message to Ireland and Norway: Israel will not go over this in silence. I have just ordered the return of the Israeli ambassadors from Dublin and Oslo to Israel for further consultations in Jerusalem," Foreign Minister Israel Katz said in a statement.