Colombian President Gustavo Petro on May 22 ordered the opening of an embassy in Palestine, joining a handful of other nations around the world that have done so. The announcement comes after Petro's government withdrew its diplomats from Israel and broke relations with the country on May 2, describing Israel's actions in Gaza as a "genocide." The Colombian embassy is to be installed in Ramallah, the Palestinian Authority's capital on the West Bank.

Colombia's move comes as Spain, Ireland and Norway have announced their recognition of Palestine as a state. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of course opposed these decisions, charging that "the intention of several European countries to recognize a Palestinian state is a reward for terrorism."

Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz also announced that Israel will bar the Spanish consulate in Jerusalem from providing services to Palestinians in the West Bank. 

The Spanish second vice president Yolanda Díaz won special opprobrium when she posted a video saying that it was not enough to recognize Palestine, but to isolate Israel until Palestine is free "from the river to the sea"—a remark labeled anti-Semitic by Katz. 

The 1933 Montevideo Convention on the Rights and Duties of States identify four conditions for recognition of statehood: "a permanent population, defined territory, government, and capacity to enter into relations with other states." (Jurist, Jurist, Anadolu Agency)

Some 140 countries have now recognized the state of Palestine. (DW)