A leading Palestinian figure has hailed the recognition of Palestine by a raft of countries as a historic day of jubilation for the Palestinian people.
Dr Sabri Saidam, deputy secretary general of Fatah's Central Committee - an arm of the PLO - told RTÉ News that the recognitions in concert with this week's UN General Assembly would help protect Palestinian identity and geography, and help bring about an end to the war in Gaza.
He paid tribute to Ireland’s role in the recognition process.
"This is a day to remember," he said. "This is history being made, and this is a day of jubilation for the Palestinian people. As much as it is our doing, it's your doing, you guys in Ireland, supporting the Palestinians all the way through and encouraging others to come forward."
Despite threats by the government of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to annex parts of the West Bank in retaliation for the spate of recognitions, Dr Saidam said the move would further isolate Israel.
"If 98pc of the world is saying, yes to Palestine, [Israel] should not be swimming against the stream, and the American administration should hear the same message," he said.
"This is no longer an Arab-Israeli conflict. It's the world-versus-Israel conflict, and we want the world to say no to Israel."
He told RTÉ News: "We want to say to the world that enough is enough, and that there has to be an awakening with regards to resolving the Arab Israeli conflict.
"All the way through, we have [supported] the two state solution, despite all the pain and anguish, and we have said yes to upholding international law. I think it's time that one wakes up and believes that there has to be a different world, and there has to be a different Middle East than the Middle East Netanyahu has promised to deliver."
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