Israel has revoked the diplomatic status of eight Norwegian representatives responsible for Norway’s relations with the Palestinian Territories, the Foreign Ministry in Jerusalem announced on Thursday.
The ministry said Foreign Minister Israel Katz had informed Norway that he would revoke the diplomatic status of Norwegian representatives in Israel who did business with the territories.
In May, Norway, Spain and Ireland decided to recognize a Palestinian state, something Israel strongly opposes.
“Whoever attacks us and pursues a unilateral policy against us will pay the price,” Katz said.
“Instead of fighting Palestinian terrorism after October 7 and supporting Israel, which is fighting the Iranian axis of evil, Norway has chosen to give the murderers and rapists of Hamas a prize in the form of recognition of a Palestinian state,” Katz continued.
The diplomatic status of the representatives shall be withdrawn within seven days of notification.
Norway calls Israeli action ‘extreme’
Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide called the Israeli move an “extreme act.” According to a statement from his ministry, Eide said that “Norway is and always will be a friend of Israel.”
However, Norway continues to criticize the occupation, the way the war in the Gaza Strip is being conducted and the suffering the war has caused the Palestinian civilian population, he added.
Norwegian-Israeli relations are changing
Eide said at a press conference on Thursday that he had summoned Israel’s diplomatic representative in Oslo to the Foreign Ministry.
Earlier, he said Israel’s decision will have consequences for Norway’s relationship with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government, but he did not go into details.
European Union supports Norway
The European Union’s top diplomat, Josep Borrellsharply criticized Israel’s actions as being in violation of the Oslo Accords, which were supposed to resolve the Middle East conflict. The agreement, reached after secret talks in the Norwegian capital, was signed in 1993.
Although Norway is not a member of the EU, Borrell said in a statement: “This is not a bilateral issue between Israel and Norway, but an issue of importance to all those committed to peace and stability in the Middle East.”
He has instructed the head of the EU delegation in Tel Aviv to convey the bloc’s position to the Israeli government.
Palestinian official asks for support
Senior Palestinian official Hussein al-Sheikh warned on X that the Israeli decision could have dangerous consequences.
“The countries of the world, and especially the European countries, must respond to this measure in the same way, because it constitutes a violation and infringement of international norms and laws,” al-Sheikh said.
