Norway closes its representative office in Palestine – news Urix – Foreign news and documentaries

From midnight to Friday, Norway’s representative office in Al Ram on Vestbreidda was closed indefinitely. – It is a direct consequence of Netanyahu giving notice that Norwegian diplomats may no longer have diplomatic status in Palestine, says Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide to news. On Palestinian land, with Israeli blessing For over 30 years, the office has in practice functioned as Norway’s embassy in the Palestinian territories. The West Bank is occupied by Israel, and the diplomats there have operated with Israel’s blessing. Israel withdrew that blessing on 8 August, as a reaction to Norway recognizing Palestine as a state in May. – It is not the case that they have asked us to leave Israel. They have refused us to operate on Palestinian land, says Eide. Working for a two-state solution Norway has, via the representation office in Al Ram, worked for a two-state solution and to build Palestinian institutions. The fact that Norwegian diplomats are in practice expelled from Palestine has major consequences for this work, says Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide today. That Norway must now close the office in Al Ram affects Palestinians first and foremost, says Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide. Photo: Yann Valerievich Belov / news He sees the decision of the Netanyahu government as “extreme and unreasonable”. – The decision seeks to hit Palestinians and the Palestinian Authority, and everyone who defends international law and the two-state solution, he says. But Norway will continue its support to the Palestinian authorities and the Palestinian people with full strength, promises Eide. The way forward When Israel withdrew the diplomatic status of the employees at the Al Ram office, it was because they perceive Norway’s policy towards Israel as “one-sided”. Israel perceived the recognition of a Palestinian state in the wake of the terrorist attack on 7 October as legitimizing Hamas. Israel’s Foreign Minister Katz on 8 August, the day he announced that Norwegian diplomacy in Palestine would end. Photo: AFP That’s what Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz wrote on X. – That’s why they are removed from positions that touch the Palestinian issue, Israel’s Foreign Minister Israel Katz told the Jerusalem Post. – Those who attacked us will have to pay a price, he added. But Eide emphasized both then and now that Norway is a friend of Israel and the Israeli people. – We have condemned Hamas’ terrorist attack against Israel on 7 October last year in the strongest possible terms. We have been clear that the hostages must be released immediately and that there is more urgency than ever with a ceasefire, he says. On Thursday, Eide spoke with the Prime Minister of Palestine, Mohammad Mustafa, about how they will continue the cooperation. Published 16.08.2024, at 07.00 Updated 16.08.2024, at 07.08



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