Spain dared to take foreign policy risk and declared recognition of the State of Palestine as a sovereign state as of 28 May 2014. This declaration, in partnership with Norway and Ireland, is an evident change in Spain’s foreign policy towards the Middle East and the acknowledgment of the country’s support for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The press release has sparked a number of reactions in the diplomatic community, with many positive responses on the one hand as well as negative ones on the other baseline.

The latest decision of the Spanish government seems to echo the opinion of some West European countries that such a step is indispensable in order to rub life into the process of the Israeli/Palestinian conflict settlement and attain a fair and balanced result. Through the said measure, Spain intends to support the global push for the attainment of a sense of everlasting security throughout the region. But the move has been criticized as it creates immediate diplomatic issues with Israel as it has summoned Spanish, Norwegian, and Irish ambassadors in response.

The ruling has been presented by Pedro Sánchez’s government as a matter of principle in relation to international law and the Palestinians’ rights. Aside from the fact that it was made against the backdrop of continuing conflict in the Middle East, the statement is given more credence as Spain asserts itself on the international scene. Some people claim that the decision to recognize Palestine alone could worsen the conflict as much as it could enhance the preparation of genuine possibility for dialogue between Israel and Palestine.

Should Spain and other European countries follow the same path and give legal status to Palestine as a sovereign state, there might be a further shift in international relations regarding the Palestinians’ state support system. This action raises a rising tendency among European countries to intervene in Middle Eastern affairs compared to the past. This move may possibly mean assuming different political stances than those of traditional Middle Eastern powers. That is why, although people around the globe are analyzing the consequences of this step, attention will be paid to the developments that impact the continuation of the peace process and the state of the region.

While Spain has begun feeling the heat of dealing with the diplomatic consequences of this decision, nobody knows how this is going to affect Spain’s overall foreign policy and, hence, its relations with friends and allies. The recent recognition of Palestine may well be a turning point for Spain’s approach to the Middle East simultaneously as it creates possibilities for exercising diplomatic power and also threatens to complicate the relationships with all members of the conflicted region.