In a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez proposed the establishment of a viable Palestinian state and called for an international peace conference on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The meeting took place in Jerusalem, where Sanchez emphasized the need for a serious and credible prospect for peace. He expressed support for Israel’s right to defend itself but also highlighted the high number of Palestinian casualties resulting from Israel’s military response to Hamas attacks.
Sanchez’s proposal for an international peace conference has received endorsement from the European Union, Arab League, and Organisation of Islamic Cooperation. He suggested that a viable Palestinian state should include the West Bank, Gaza, and East Jerusalem, in accordance with UN resolutions. However, United States officials have expressed that the time is not right for peace talks, citing the intransigence of both sides.
Sanchez attended the meeting alongside his Belgian counterpart, Alexander De Croo, as their countries hold the current and upcoming rotating presidencies of the Council of the European Union. Sanchez also mentioned the upcoming Union for the Mediterranean summit in Barcelona as an “ideal place” to relaunch Israeli-Palestinian dialogue on equal footing.
The article highlights the historical context of previous peace negotiations, such as the 1991 multilateral peace conference in Madrid and the 1993 Oslo interim accords. However, these negotiations faced challenges due to differences over borders, Palestinian refugees, Israeli settlements, and the status of Jerusalem.
Sanchez’s foreign policy priority is to work towards recognizing the Palestinian state in Europe and Spain. While smaller European nations like Sweden and Malta have recognized Palestine, no major EU member has taken this step. Sanchez governs in a minority coalition with a hard-left formation called Sumar.
In response to the ongoing Israel-Hamas war, British Foreign Secretary David Cameron also met with Prime Minister Netanyahu in Jerusalem. Cameron expressed hope for a four-day truce and emphasized the importance of eradicating Hamas for the future of peace between Israel, the Palestinians, and the Arab states.
Overall, Sanchez’s proposal for an international peace conference and his call for a viable Palestinian state demonstrate Spain’s commitment to finding a peaceful resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. However, the prospects for peace talks remain uncertain due to the complexities and challenges involved.
