Oslo warned Israel that ties between the two countries would be harmed by Jerusalem’s decision to revoke the diplomatic status of Norwegian officials who were working with the Palestinian Authority.
“Today’s decision will have consequences for our relationship with Prime Minister Benjamin’ Netanyahu’s government. We are considering what measures Norway will take to respond to the situation that the Netanyahu government has now created,” Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide said on Thursday.
He called Israel’s decision “extreme,” explaining that it “primarily affects our ability to help the Palestinian population.”
It’s important to ensure that Israel and Norway maintain “well-functioning diplomatic channels” particularly in light of the significant regional tensions, Eide explained.
“Norway is and will always be a friend of Israel and the Israeli people. At the same time, Norway has been clear in its criticism of the occupation, the manner in which the war in Gaza has been conducted, and the suffering this has caused the Palestinian civilian population.”
He spoke up after the Foreign Ministry informed the Norwegian embassy that diplomats posted to the Palestinian Authority in Ramallah cannot reside within sovereign Israel, including Tel Aviv.
Israel bars Norway's FM from visiting Israel
Israel “informs the Embassy that the State of Israel will no longer facilitate Norway’s representation to the Palestinian Authority,” the Foreign Ministry wrote in a letter to the Norwegian Embassy in Tel Aviv.
“Israel will not accredit Norwegian diplomats in the State of Israel if they are sent to be posted to serve in Norway’s representative office in the Palestinian Authority,” the Foreign Ministry said.
“The diplomatic status in Israel of Norwegian officials posted to serve in Norway’s representative office in the Palestinian Authority shall be revoked seven days after the date of this note,” it said.
“Additionally, their current visa to Israel will be valid for three months from the date of his note,” the ministry added.
“If the Embassy wishes to accredit one or more of the aforementioned Norwegian officials, as diplomats posted to the Embassy of Norway in Israel, representing the Kingdom of Norway to the State of Israel, the Embassy may submit an appropriate request to the Ministry,” it said.
The move follows a decision by the ministry not to allow the Eide to visit Israel last month.
Israel has been upset with Norway over its decision in May to unilaterally recognize Palestinian statehood, believing that such a step in the aftermath of the October 7 Hamas attack gives de facto legitimization to the terror group and its action on that day in which over 1,200 people were killed and 251 seized as hostages....