Espen Barth Eide on recognition: – War shows that it is a prerequisite

As of midnight Tuesday, Norway has officially recognized Palestine as a separate state. That's what the Ministry of Foreign Affairs tells the NDP.

Norway is one of the 145 countries that currently recognize Palestine. According to Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide, there are several reasons why recognizing Palestine now is the right thing to do.

– The ongoing war in Gaza shows even more clearly that peace and stability require a solution to the Palestinian issue. The war is a low point in a long, negative development in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. “We have to go back several years to see a situation as serious as it is today in the Middle East,” Barth Ede tells ABC Tonight.

Read more about the war between Israel and Hamas here!

Watch the video: Store throat: – Thank you Hamas

Follows Storting's decision

A Previous day's report The foreign minister said Norway has been one of the strongest supporters of a Palestinian state for more than 30 years.

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– Today, Norway's official recognition of Palestine as a state is a milestone in the relationship between Norway and Palestine, says the Foreign Minister.

The proposal to recognize Palestine was raised by Rødt last autumn. Absent recognition then, the Storting decided to ask the government to be prepared to recognize Palestine as a separate state, at a time when recognition would have a positive impact on a peace process and without reservations in a final peace agreement.

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Barth Ede believes this is what the government is now following.

– We are working on a comprehensive Arab peace plan, in which many Arab countries are involved, in which recognition is an important part, answered Barth Eide, and continued:

– Norway works closely with Saudi Arabia and has been instrumental in mobilizing European support for the Arab peace vision. Norway and Saudi Arabia recently convened a meeting of foreign ministers in Riyadh where the project was a topic. In a few days, Norway will lead a meeting of international partners on Palestine in Brussels, where the new Palestinian prime minister and government will present their reform plans, and we hope that further progress will be made there.

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– Desires continued close contact with Israeli authorities

Apart from Norway, Spain and Ireland also recognize Palestine today.

The European countries' decision has provoked a very negative reaction from Israel, which has recalled its ambassadors from Oslo, Dublin and Madrid.

– Has the Ministry of Foreign Affairs given any thought to how this will affect relations with Israel and the possibility of assisting in mediation?

– Norway still wants close contact with the Israeli authorities. Norway was one of the first countries to recognize Israel as a state in 1949. Israel is in a vulnerable security situation, and Norway recognizes that Israel has the right to defend itself within the framework of international law. We believe that a two-state solution is in Israel's own interest. This will contribute to a more peaceful, secure and stable region, says Barth Ede.

He believes that in the absence of peace processes and a political solution to the conflict, development has gone in the wrong direction.

– Neither Palestinians nor Israelis can live their lives in safety. So we have to think differently and act accordingly. A recognition can no longer wait until a peace settlement, he concludes.