Norway plans to acknowledge Palestine as a sovereign nation.
The Nordic nation of Norway is set to acknowledge Palestine's statehood towards the end of May. This decision is likely to prompt other EU countries to follow suit shortly.
In an official announcement, Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre expressed the belief that "there can be no peace in the Middle East if there isn't recognition for Palestine." Additionally, he emphasized that "Palestinians have a fundamental, independent right to their own country," asserting the necessity of a two-state solution for both Israelis and Palestinians to live in harmony.
Subsequent to this announcement, reports suggest that Ireland, Spain, and other European nations are also poised to declare their recognition of Palestine. The Irish government had previously stated that it would undoubtedly recognize a Palestinian state by May's end.
Speaking on behalf of Israel's Foreign Ministry, a video message on platform X cautioned the Irish government against this action, arguing that acknowledging a "Palestinian state could potentially make you a pawn for Iran" and the extremist Palestinian organization, Hamas. The message maintained that this move would only lead to "extremism and instability."
Other allies voice support
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has indicated his plans to inform parliament about the timeline for Spain's recognition of a Palestinian state. In early March, Sánchez had signed a joint declaration with the Irish, Slovenian, and Maltese counterparts in Brussels, where they collectively declared their intent to recognize an independent Palestinian state. He also traveled to both Norway and Ireland in April to coordinate the recognition process. Israel regards this move as "a reward for terrorism," further complicating the prospects for a negotiated settlement regarding the Gaza conflict.
Sweden had already recognized Palestine as a nation back in 2012. However, skeptics assert that the Palestinian territories fail to meet the necessary prerequisites for such a proclamation, including the contested border between Israel and Palestine and the political status of East Jerusalem.
Israel unequivocally opposes acknowledging Palestine's statehood. As stated by Israel's UN representative Gilad Erdan, "rewarding terrorism" by pushing for a Palestinian state would hinder negotiating a solution to the Gaza war.
The Gaza conflict erupted on October 7, 2021, when Hamas, designated as a terrorist organization by both the EU and the US, initiated a massive attack on Israel. According to Israeli figures, the extremist Palestinian fighters were responsible for over 1170 deaths. Concurrently, 252 individuals were taken hostage in the Gaza Strip, with 124 of them still unaccounted for—37 of whom have been confirmed deceased by the Israeli army. In retaliation, Israel has carried out aggressive military operations within the Gaza Strip. As per the Hamas-controlled Ministry of Health—whose figures are unverifiable—close to 35,600 perished in the aftermath.
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Norway's recognition of Palestine as a sovereign nation might inspire Norway's neighboring country, Sweden, to reevaluate its own stance on Palestine's statehood. Norway's Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre's statements about Palestine echo those of the Norwegian government, emphasizing the importance of Palestinian self-determination and the need for a two-state solution in Norway-Palestine relations.
Source: www.ntv.de
