Norway should terminate its diplomatic ties with Palestinians.
After the Gaza conflict, Norway opts to recognize a Palestinian state, displaying solidarity with the Palestinian leadership in the West Bank. This move is seen as an insult by Israel's leadership and they retaliate with appropriate measures.
Norway shuts down its office in the West Bank after Israel revoked the diplomatic status of Norwegian officials responsible for Palestinian territories. In response to Norway's decision, Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz stated, "We will confront those who confront us."
Previously, Norway's Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide labeled Israel's action as "unjustified and illogical." He argued that it discriminates against "the Palestinians, the Palestinian Authority, and all those who advocate for international law, a two-state solution, and the legitimate right of Palestinians to self-determination."
The Norwegian office in Al-Ram, West Bank, remains closed permanently, nearly 30 years after its establishment. Israel claimed that the eight Norwegian diplomats whose status was changed were stationed at the Norwegian embassy in Israel but held contacts with the Palestinian Authority. In May, Norway, Spain, and Ireland also chose to recognize a Palestinian state.
Katz expressed Israel's reasoning behind this decision on X, stating, "This was prompted by the recognition of a Hamas-controlled Palestinian state following the October 7 massacre and Norway's support for issuing arrest warrants against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other high-ranking Israeli officials." However, it's important to note that the Palestinian territories where these Norwegian diplomats were active are governed by the Fatah party, which is adversarial to Hamas.
The Palestinian Authority was founded based on the "Oslo Accords," a secret agreement signed between Israel and the Palestinians in Oslo, Norway, in 1993. Norway has played a significant role in the region since then.
The Palestinian Authority, founded under the Oslo Accords, expresses gratitude towards Norway for recognizing a Palestinian state, aligning with their pursuit of self-determination. However, the Fatah party, governing the Palestinian territories where Norwegian diplomats were active, distances itself from any association with Hamas, which Israel views as a threat.
