Eduardo González
The President of the Government, Pedro Sánchez, spoke yesterday by telephone with the Emir of Qatar, Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, and with the Prime Minister of Ireland, Simon Harris, before whom he reiterated his support for the Palestinian State, a few days after visiting both countries. within the framework of their diplomatic efforts to defend one of their great foreign policy priorities.
“I have spoken with His Highness, Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the Emir of Qatar, to whom I have conveyed my sincere appreciation for the mediation role that his country is carrying out to achieve a ceasefire and the release of the Israelis hostages in the hands of Hamas,” declared Sánchez through the social network X.
“I have shared with the emir my concern about Israel’s possible operation on Rafah,” he continued. “Spain is committed to efforts to achieve a just and lasting peace in the region through the two-state solution and mutual recognition,” he added.
Yesterday, after learning of the announcement of Israel’s offensive on Rafah, the President of the Government wrote on the same social network: “An offensive on Rafah will increase the suffering that the Palestinian people are already suffering. It is urgent that a ceasefire be reached that prevent the death of more innocent civilians and allow the entry of humanitarian aid and the release of Israeli hostages. The international community cannot remain passive in the face of this tragedy.
Sánchez made an official visit to Qatar on April 3 as part of a tour of the Middle East that included Jordan and Saudi Arabia. During the joint press conference with the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mohamed bin Abdulrahman al Thani, the President of the Government announced that Spain will support “the entry of Palestine as a full member of the United Nations” and demanded, at the same time, the recognition of the State of Israel by its Arab “neighbors,” because “mutual recognition is the key to achieving a lasting solution to this conflict.”
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, José Manuel Albares, also traveled to Qatar on February 6 to inquire about the latest contacts of the Qatari authorities with the opposing parties in the Middle East and to offer the necessary help from Spain to establish “a new dynamic of peace in the region.”
Ireland
Likewise, Sánchez spoke yesterday with the Prime Minister of Ireland, Simon Harris, “about the will of both Governments to recognize the Palestinian State and coordinate our efforts to carry it out.” “The two-state solution is the only formula to achieve a future of peace, security and stability in the region,” he added, through the same social network.
The President of the Government was received by Harris on April 11, in this case within the framework of a European mini-tour to obtain the support of other leaders for the recognition of the Palestinian State, which has become one of his greatest priorities in foreign policy.
In Dublin, Sánchez confirmed Harris’ support for the recognition of the Palestinian State, in the same line as his predecessor, Leo Varadkar. In fact, in the joint press conference with the Irish Prime Minister, the head of the Executive recalled the “joint letter” sent by Spain and Ireland to the EU “on Israel’s obligations in terms of respect for human rights” and the declaration signed on March 22 by himself, by Varadkar and by the prime ministers of Malta, Robert Abela, and of Slovenia, Robert Golob, in which they committed to recognizing the State of Palestine when “the appropriate circumstances arise”.
