Norway’s committed to a two-state solution,’ says deputy foreign minister

2nd May, Norway

Norway has reaffirmed its commitment to a two-state solution between Israel and Palestine. At a recent Global Alliance meeting in Oslo

Ireland, Norway, and Spain, on Wednesday, May 22nd, declared that they were officially recognising the State of Palestine. It was the first time since Sweden followed suit in 2014 when European nations went the symbolic mile. Slovenia kicked off the procedure for recognising the Palestinian state earlier in May and could implement it by the end of the month.

Following the Hamas terrorist strike against Israel on October 7, 2023, which caused the deaths of nearly 1,200 individuals in Israel, these four nations extended their support to Israel and accepted its right to defend itself per the constraints of international humanitarian law. 

But, with over 35,000 victims in Gaza and over 70% of the houses destroyed there, the states want to “break the current cycle of violence,” Spain’s foreign minister, José Manuel Albares, said. Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz promptly ordered the recall “for consultation” of his ambassadors to the three nations. “Today’s move gives a message to the Palestinians and the entire world: terrorism pays,” he said.

Following the Hamas terrorist attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, that resulted in nearly 1,200 fatalities in Israel, these four nations extended their support to Israel and endorsed its right to defend itself under the boundaries of international humanitarian law. 

However, following over 35,000 victims in Gaza and the elimination of over 70% of houses there, these nations hope to “stop the present vicious circle of bloodshed,” based on Spain’s foreign minister, José Manuel Albares. 

The Israeli Foreign Minister, Israel Katz, shortly declared the call “for consultations” of his ambassadors to those three nations. “Today’s move sends out a message to the Palestinians and the world: terrorism pays,” he stated.

In May 2024 , Norway, Ireland, and Spain officially recognized the State of Palestine. Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store said the recognition was aimed at promoting the two-state solution and emphasizing the Palestinian people’s right to a state of their own.

These moves are an extension of Norway’s long-standing involvement in Middle East peacemaking, dating back to its facilitation of the Oslo Accords in the early 1990s. Norway remains committed to a negotiated two-state solution on the 1967 lines, with mutual recognition and mutual security for both states.

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