Norway, Spain and Ireland will recognize an independent Palestinian state, their leaders said in near simultaneous announcements on Wednesday, defying staunch opposition from Israel. “This is an historic and important day for Ireland and Palestine,” said Irish prime minister Simon Harris in a speech to the nation. It was “never the wrong time to do the right thing,” he said, comparing the Palestinian struggle for independence to Ireland’s pursuit of independence some 100 years ago. Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre said in Oslo he hoped other countries would join in the initiative, bel…