What's happened
On August 8, 2024, Israel revoked the diplomatic status of eight Norwegian diplomats, escalating tensions following Norway's recognition of a Palestinian state. The move has drawn criticism from the U.S. and EU, highlighting Norway's historical role in mediating peace efforts. Norway's Foreign Minister warned of consequences for bilateral relations.
Why it matters
What the papers say
The Times of Israel reported that Israel's Foreign Ministry accused Norway of conducting an 'extreme, one-sided and anti-Israel' policy, citing Norway's recognition of Palestinian statehood and its support for an ICC case against Israeli leaders (The Times of Israel, August 10, 2024). In contrast, U.S. State Department spokesman Matthew Miller emphasized Norway's historical role in facilitating peace talks, stating that preventing Norway from engaging with both Israel and the Palestinian Authority is 'not helpful' (The Times of Israel, August 9, 2024). Norway's Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide described Israel's actions as 'extreme' and warned of consequences for bilateral relations (Politico, August 8, 2024). This divergence in perspectives illustrates the complexities of international diplomacy surrounding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
How we got here
Tensions between Israel and Norway have escalated since Norway recognized the state of Palestine in May 2024. Israel's decision to revoke diplomatic status stems from perceived anti-Israel actions by Norway, including its support for an ICC case against Israeli leaders.
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