Last month, Spain, Ireland, Malta and Slovenia announced that they would work together to recognize a Palestinian state.

Israel told the four EU countries that their initiative would amount to a “price for terrorism”.

ISeveral European states are expected to recognize a Palestinian state by the end of May, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said as he was speaking on the sidelines of a special meeting of the World Economic Forum in Riyadh.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said recently that his country has agreed with the leaders of Ireland, Malta and Slovenia to take the first steps towards recognising a Palestinian state.

Israel told the four EU countries that their initiative would amount to a “price for terrorism” that would reduce the chances of a negotiated resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

“We have agreed that the only way to achieve lasting peace and stability in the region is through implementation of a two-state solution, with Israeli and Palestinian States living side-by-side, in peace and security,” said  a joint statement of the four countries.

On Monday, newly appointed Portuguese Prime Minister Luis Montenegro told Pedro Sanchez at a meeting that Lisbon is not ready yet to recognise a Palestinian state without a joint EU approach.