https://www.alquds.com/en/posts/132305
Norway intends to close its representative office to the Palestinian Authority
Norway intends to close its representative office in Ramallah in the West Bank after the Israeli government decided to revoke the diplomatic status of 8 Norwegian diplomats dealing with the Palestinian Authority. At the same time, it affirms its continued support for the Palestinian Authority and people.
The Norwegian Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Friday that "as a result of the decision of the Benjamin Netanyahu government not to facilitate Norway's representation to the Palestinian Authority, our representative office in Ramallah, Palestine, must be closed as of today."
Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide considered the Netanyahu government's decision "extreme and unreasonable. It seeks to target the Palestinians, the Palestinian Authority and everyone who defends international law, the two-state solution and the legitimate Palestinian right to self-determination."
"We will do our utmost to ensure that this does not affect our work for Palestine and for a viable Palestinian state. Our commitment will continue with full force. We are now working to determine the best ways to organize our work in the future," Eide was quoted as saying in a statement by the Norwegian Foreign Ministry.
“We will continue our active work to achieve a sustainable two-state solution, which we believe is in the security interests of both Israelis and Palestinians and other countries in the Middle East,” the Norwegian minister added. “Norway and the Representative Office have worked for more than 30 years for a two-state solution, peace between Israel and Palestine and building Palestinian institutions.”
Eddy warned of the negative consequences of this Israeli measure, saying, "The Netanyahu government's decision has clear consequences for our work in Palestine. It affects our local employees."
"Many of them have worked in the representation office for several years. It also affects our diplomats and their families. We are now fully focused on how to protect our staff and our work in the best possible way," he added.
The statement noted the countries that criticized the Israeli decision, saying, "Norway received strong support from many countries after the Netanyahu government expelled Norwegian diplomats from Palestine. The United States, the European Union, Germany, the United Kingdom, and France, among others, have protested to Israel on this issue."
The Norwegian Foreign Minister was quoted as saying, "We are grateful for the support we have received from a number of key countries over the past week. We look forward to continuing our cooperation for a viable Palestinian state and a sustainable two-state solution."
It is noteworthy that the Israeli government informed the Norwegian embassy on August 8 of the cancellation of the diplomatic status of Norwegian officials working in their country's representative office to the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank.
The Israeli decision came after Norway, Spain, Ireland, and Slovenia, on May 28, announced their official recognition of the Palestinian state, bringing the total number of countries recognizing it to 148 out of 193 member states of the United Nations General Assembly.