Ireland has elevated the status of the Palestinian diplomatic delegation in Dublin to that of “diplomatic mission” — one notch below that of a full embassy. It becomes the fifth European nation to do so, following the leads of France, Norway, Spain and Portugal. Palestinian leaders have been lobbying for increased recognition in anticipation of full statehood and although the European nations have been unwilling to go as far as eight South American nations in granting full recognition of the “independent Palestinian state,” the move by the four European countries makes clear that there is an unambiguous trend toward recognition of the nascent state. Israel’s Foreign Ministry lashed out at Dublin, accusing it of harboring a “long-standing biased policy on the Middle East.” The Israelis contend the spate of recognitions makes the Palestinians less receptive to an honest negotiating process, a sentiment echoed by the Obama administration which has called the South American recognitions “premature.”