The prime ministers of Ireland, Spain and Norway announced Thursday morning their countries would recognize Palestine as an independent state, and urged other countries to do the same.

Top European Union foreign policy official Josep Borrell said EU member-states need to adopt a common stance on recognizing Palestine.

Israeli prime minister Binyamin Netanyahu characterized the recognition as a reward for terrorism and Israel recalled its ambassadors to the three countries.

Penny Wong, Australia’s foreign minister and right-hand-woman to the prime minister, said Australia will continue to seek a negotiated solution between Israel and the Palestinians before recognizing an independent Palestinian state. Unlike her allies, Australia’s Labor Government failed to condemn a decision Monday by the International Criminal Court’s chief prosecutor to seek arrest warrants for Netanyahu and the Israeli defense minister for alleged war crimes in the Gaza Strip.