The map shows the countries that recognize or do not recognize the Palestinian state

The governments of Spain, Ireland and Norway announced, on Wednesday (22), their joining the list of countries that recognize the Palestinian state.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said: “We will recognize the State of Palestine for many reasons, which can be summarized in three words: peace, justice and cohesion.”

He added, “When the bombings stop… I want the Spaniards to be able to say, with their heads held high and their conscience clear, that they were on the right side of history.”

Hamas described the decision as “a direct result of the courageous resistance of the Palestinian people,” while Israel said that “history will remember that Spain, Norway and Ireland decided to award a medal to the murderers and rapists of Hamas.”

The Palestinian Foreign Ministry said that the decision of the three European countries shows “a firm commitment to the two-state solution.”

The overwhelming majority of countries in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Middle East recognize the Palestinian state, a total of 143 countries.

Two weeks ago, 81% of the member states of the United Nations General Assembly supported the Palestinian state’s accession to the organization, which it has become an observer member in since 2012.

The Palestinian state was officially declared by the Palestine Liberation Organization in 1988, and later declared sovereignty over the internationally recognized Palestinian territories: the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip, although the borders were not clearly demarcated.

The Palestinian Authority, which governs and is headquartered in the West Bank, is the legitimate representative of the Palestinians at the international level and, therefore, has been recognized since the 1990s.

The list of countries that recognize this country does not include the United States, the United Kingdom, or any other member of the G7.

In Latin America, there are 19 countries that have recognized the existence of the Palestinian state: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Mexico, and Nicaragua. Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay and Venezuela.

The only country in Latin America that does not recognize a Palestinian state is Panama.

It was also the only country in the region to vote against the Palestinians obtaining “non-member observer state” status at the United Nations, in a historic vote that took place in late 2012.

A symbolic gesture?

James Landale, the BBC’s international affairs correspondent, points out that the announcement by Ireland, Spain and Norway will increase pressure on other European governments – including the United Kingdom, France and Germany – to also recognize a Palestinian state.

But he warns that what happened on Wednesday is largely just a symbolic gesture if it does not address other vital issues.

What should the boundaries be? Where should the capital be? What should both parties do first to make this happen?

Landale points out that these are difficult questions that have not reached agreement and been unable to answer satisfactorily for decades.

“Today, some other countries in Europe believe there should be a Palestinian state,” Landel says. “Supporters will applaud this measure, and opponents will condemn it.”

“But this is unlikely to change the harsh reality for Palestinians.”