Norway–Palestine relations

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Norwegian-Palestinian relations
Map indicating locations of Norway and Palestine

Norway
Palestine

Palestine has a diplomatic mission in Oslo, while Norway has a representative office in Al-Ram. Norway recognized the state of Palestine on May 28, 2024.[1]

History[edit]

The Labour Party, the ruling party in the 1940s, held a pro-Israel position. For the majority of non-Socialist and Christians Norwegians, the new Jewish state represented the realization of the Prophecies of the Old Testament.[2] Norway was described as the most pro-Israel of the three Nordic countries.[2] However, Labour's support for Israel was not indisputable, as in 1945 the party considered the establishment of a Jewish state to be "not possible and unfair". The party's proposal for the Jewish problem was non-Zionist, assimilating Jews into their respective European countries.[2]

After Knut Frydenlund became foreign minister in 1973, he played a crucial role in promoting Palestinian demands early in his political career. However, in 1974, Norway was among eight states voting against granting the PLO observer status in the United Nations General Assembly.

Norway helped orchestrate the 1993 Oslo Accords. For the signing of the Oslo Accords, the Norwegian Nobel Committee awarded the 1994 Nobel Peace Prize.

To communicate better with the PLO headquarters in Tunis, Norway also established an embassy in the Tunisian capital in 2007.[3]

The Norwegian government upgraded the Palestinian mission in Oslo to an embassy in December 2010 and called for a Palestinian state within the following year.[4] In January 2011, Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre stated that if negotiations with Israel failed by September, Norway would recognize Palestine within the United Nations framework.[5][6] After meeting with Abbas in July 2011, Støre said it was legitimate for Palestinians to seek a vote on statehood, emphasizing that people have the right to use UN institutions to clarify their status.[7]

In May 2017, a militant who took part in the 1978 Coastal Road massacre, where 38 Israeli civilians, including 13 children, were killed, was commemorated on a women's center by an agency of the Palestinian Authority. The center was built with the aid of the government of Norway and UN Women.[8] Norway's Foreign Minister demanded that Norway's funding for the building be repaid and its logo removed from the building. He said that "Norway will not allow itself to be associated with institutions that take the names of terrorists in this way".[9][10][11]

In June 2022, the Norwegian government announced the start of labelling products from settlements following the EU approach.[12]

On 27 October 2023, Norway was one of 121 countries to vote in favor of a General Assembly resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire to the fighting between Israel and Gaza.[13] In November, Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre rejected the Israeli aggression on Gaza and stated that it violated international laws of war, affirming the Palestinians' right to self-defense.[14]

On 16 November 2023, the Norwegian Parliament, the Storting, approved a resolution that calls on the government to be ready to recognise Palestine as an independent state.[15] On 23 December, Støre strongly criticized Israel's warfare. He added that the Gaza Strip is now virtually without any hospital, "This means that more than 2 million people who have an urgent need for medical assistance are in a critical situation, which we cannot accept." And it risks losing any solidarity as a result of the 7 October attack.[16]

Amid the Israel-Hamas war, the government of Norway recognized the State of Palestine on 28 May 2024.[17]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Norge anarkjenner Palestina". Regjeringen.no (in Norwegian). Retrieved 2024-05-22.
  2. ^ a b c https://rucforsk.ruc.dk/ws/portalfiles/portal/64648273/Norway_s_ambiguous_approach_to_Israel_and_Palestine_M_Pace_10_August_2018.pdf [bare URL PDF]
  3. ^ "Flytter norsk ambassade fra Tunisia til Algerie". Bergens Tidende (in Norwegian). Norwegian News Agency. 19 January 2007. Retrieved 25 November 2021.
  4. ^ Stigset, Marianne (15 December 2010). "Norway Calls for Palestinian State, Gives Diplomatic Mission Embassy Rank". Bloomberg. Retrieved 15 December 2010.
  5. ^ Staff writers (20 January 2011). "Norway to recognise Palestine if peace talks fail". Ice News. Retrieved 1 August 2011.
  6. ^ Ravid, Barak (3 March 2011). "Norway may recognize Palestinian state if peace process remains stalled". Haaretz. Retrieved 1 August 2011.
  7. ^ NewsGuy (23 July 2011). "Norway To Back Palestinian State". The Right Perspective. Archived from the original on 11 October 2011. Retrieved 1 August 2011.
  8. ^ "Danmark strammer betingelserne for bistand til palæstinenserne". www.b.dk (in Danish). 22 December 2017. Retrieved 10 March 2018.
  9. ^ Keinon, Herb (27 May 2017). "Norway slams PA for glorifying terrorists with its money". JPost.com. Retrieved 27 May 2017.
  10. ^ Issacharoff, Avi (27 May 2017). "Norway demands PA return funds for women's center named after terrorist". The Times of Israel. Retrieved 10 March 2018.
  11. ^ Affairs, Ministry of Foreign (26 May 2017). "Unacceptable glorification of terrorist attacks". Government.no. Retrieved 10 March 2018.
  12. ^ "Israel hardt ut mot Norge for merking av bosetterprodukter". 11 June 2022.
  13. ^ Wintour, Patrick (27 October 2023). "Israel-Gaza war: UN general assembly calls for 'immediate, durable humanitarian truce'". The Guardian.
  14. ^ "Jonas Gahr Støre trur lidingane i Gaza vil halde fram i lang tid". 9 November 2023.
  15. ^ "Norway parliament calls for recognition of independent Palestinian state".
  16. ^ "Støre refser Israel: – Totalt uakseptabelt". MSN (in Norwegian). 23 December 2023.
  17. ^ Spain, Norway and Ireland formally recognize a Palestinian state as EU rift with Israel widens
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