MADRID, November 14 (Sputnik) – Spain could recognize Palestine as a sovereign state if it facilitated negotiations between Israel and Palestine, Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Garcia-Margallo has said.
"Spain will recognize Palestine if we think it will facilitate the negotiation process [between Israel and Palestine] or when we see that the negotiations are in a deadlock," Garcia-Margallo said at a lunch organized by the European Journalists Association on Thursday.
He noted that such a possibility should facilitate the resolution of the conflict between the two countries, with the participation of the international community.
The minister added, however, that Palestine could become a viable state only upon reaching an agreement with Israel in order to settle border and refugee-related issues, among others.
The Spanish Socialist Workers Party (PSOE) has said that sooner or later Spain will recognize the Palestinian state and that it will push the country toward that decision.
Palestinians seek to create an independent state on the territories of the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, partially occupied by Israel, and on the Gaza Strip. Palestine has designated Jerusalem as its capital and called on Israel to withdraw from the Palestinian territories it took after the war in 1967.
Out of the 193 UN member states, 135 have recognized the State of Palestine, including Russia.
