Norway’s decision to recognize Palestine as a state has been anticipated for some time and Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store’s announcement this morning is a clear message to other countries to follow suit. Spain and Ireland are also planning to take similar steps, with Spanish PM Pedro Sánchez recently visiting both Norway and Ireland in an effort to coordinate their actions.
Norway has been a strong supporter of a two-state solution for Israel and the Palestinians, having played a key role in mediating the Oslo Accords in 1993. These accords resulted in limited self-rule for the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank and Gaza. Last November, Norway’s parliament, the Storting, voted to support a motion calling on the government to be prepared to recognize Palestine as a state.
Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eid has emphasized the need for a resolution to the conflict in Gaza, describing it as a “drama” that requires a decisive path towards a settlement. He has also clarified that recognizing Palestine as a state is not an end goal in itself, but rather a tool to facilitate progress towards a resolution. Eid has stated that Norway’s aim is to support the establishment of a Palestinian state under the Palestinian Authority, rather than a state controlled by Hamas.