Sumar presents Palestine recognition as condition to join next Sánchez government

Recognition of the Palestinian state is one of the conditions for the left-wing Sumar platform to sign a coalition agreement with acting Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, the group’s spokesman Ernest Urtasun said on Monday, noting that there should be no need to wait for a common EU position.

Urtasun, who is also an MEP, stressed on Monday that the left-wing platform, led by acting Labour Minister Yolanda Díaz, has included as a condition in the negotiations with Sánchez’s PSOE (S&D) that the future executive recognises the “Palestinian State” unilaterally and unconditionally.

“We believe that the time has come for Spain to recognise the Palestinian state unilaterally, unconditionally and urgently as an essential contribution to the resolution of the conflict and to peace”, Urtasun commented at a press conference in Madrid.

“We want this to be one of the first measures to be taken by the next coalition government (PSOE-Sumar),” he added.

“The best way to guarantee the aspirations of both sides is the solution of two states, Israel and Palestine, living side by side in peace and security. The final status of Jerusalem should be the outcome of these negotiations”, reads Spain’s official position on the conflict.

Sánchez’s future government will most likely include Díaz as his ‘number two’, as well as some other members of the progressive platform, including perhaps also members of the almost defunct Unidas Podemos in the current acting coalition.

On Monday, Urtasun presented three initiatives related to the conflict between Israel and Hamas, including a proposal for a parliamentary statement condemning the violence in the region.

The Sumar spokesperson recalled that Sweden and Greece have already recognised the Palestinian state, so Spain could do so without waiting for the EU to agree on a common position, he insisted.

Sumar condemns Israel’s ‘ethnic cleansing’

On Tuesday, EU leaders will meet via video conference to establish a “common position” on the conflict after Brussels was criticised by several European left-wing parties, including Spain’s Sumar and Unidas Podemos, for its allegedly pro-Israeli stance.

On the future recognition of a “Palestinian state” by Spain, Urtasun pointed out that in his opinion, Sánchez (PSOE/S&D) is in favour of it, but within the framework of the EU, which is why Sumar is calling on the Socialist candidate to take a step forward and announce the measure without waiting for a decision at EU level.

Urtasun and Sumar’s parliamentary spokeswoman, Marta Lois, recalled on Monday that since 2014, the Spanish parliament has repeatedly expressed its support for the recognition of “Palestine” as a state and that what is needed now is for Madrid to give substance to this initially favourable position – in a clear and tangible way.

Sumar’s position on Palestine had already been included in the initial contacts to re-establish a coalition government with PSOE after the snap general election on 23 July, Urtasun said, adding that his party had now reiterated that it wanted it to be “clearly and unequivocally included in the next government agreement”.

This inclusion would mean making progress on the “international agenda” for the coalition agreement, stated Lois, adding that it needs further development.

Condemning the “terror attacks against the civilian population committed by Hamas”, Marta Lois accused Israel of “ethnic cleansing” in its “process of violating human rights in Gaza”. She also deplored the “double standards” with which the European Union sometimes acts.

(Fernando Heller | EuroEFE.Euractiv.es)