Norway Officially Recognizes Palestinian Diplomatic Status with Paper Handover to PM
On Sunday, Norway took a significant diplomatic step by delivering official documents to the Palestinian prime minister, marking another milestone in the journey towards recognizing a Palestinian state. While this action is largely symbolic, it has sparked strong reactions from Israel.
In a significant step, Ireland and Spain, alongside Norway, have joined forces to formally acknowledge the sovereignty of a Palestinian state. This momentous decision comes at a crucial time, further deepening Israel’s international isolation as it continues its prolonged conflict in Gaza.
In Brussels, Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide handed over papers to the prime minister. Meanwhile, Mohammad Mustafa is in the same city, rallying support for the Palestinians as he meets with foreign ministers of European Union nations and high-level EU officials on Monday. It’s worth noting that Norway is not a member of the EU.
The diplomatic move by the three nations was a welcome boost of support for Palestinian officials who have sought for decades to establish statehood in east Jerusalem, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip – territories Israel seized in the 1967 Mideast war and still controls.
The formal recognition by Norway, Spain and Ireland – which all have a record of friendly ties with both the Israelis and the Palestinians, while long advocating for a Palestinian state – is planned for Tuesday.
Some 140 countries – more than two-thirds of the United Nations – recognise a Palestinian state but a majority of the 27 EU nations still do not. Several have said they would recognise it when the conditions are right.
The EU, the United States and Britain, among others, back the idea of an independent Palestinian state alongside Israel but say it should come as part of a negotiated settlement.
Belgium, which holds the EU presidency, has said that first the Israeli captives need to be freed and the war on Gaza must end.
Some other governments favour a new initiative toward a two-state solution, 15 years after negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians collapsed.
Sunday’s handover of papers came only two days after the United Nations’ top court ordered Israel to immediately halt its military offensive in the southern Gaza city of Rafah in the latest move that piled more pressure on the increasingly isolated country.
Days earlier, the chief prosecutor for the International Criminal Court requested arrest warrants for Israeli leaders, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Israel’s war on Gaza has killed at least 35,900 people – 70 percent of whom were women and children.
