Norway, Israel clash over Palestinian statehood recognition

Norway and Israel have been at odds for months over Oslo's decision to recognize Palestine as a state, a move that drew sharp rebuke from Tel Aviv, which responded with a series of measures against the Nordic country and Palestinians.

Most recently, Israel rescinded the accreditation of Norwegian diplomats dealing with the Palestinian Authority, over the decision in late May, also reportedly withdrawing and cancelling some bank deposits in Norwegian accounts.

"We received a message today from the Netanyahu government that it will no longer facilitate the work of Norwegian diplomats in the Palestinian territories," Norwegian Foreign Ministry said a statement on Thursday.

"This is an extreme act that severely impacts our ability to assist the Palestinians. Israel's decision to revoke the diplomatic status of members of our embassy is an extreme measure and will have consequences," the ministry said, adding that it was assessing possible responses to the situation "created by the Netanyahu government."

For its part, Israel said the step came in the wake of a "flurry of anti-Israeli and unilateral steps" by the Norwegian government.

The country's Foreign Ministry said in a statement that Norway's ambassador had been summoned and informed that the diplomats would have their accreditation revoked in seven days and their visas in three months.

Last May, Norway joined Spain and Ireland in recognizing Palestine as a state. Slovenia and Armenia followed suit in June.

The recognitions have angered Israel, which vowed to take measures against these countries.

Norway has a representative office in the West Bank city of Ramallah. Its diplomats, however, must pass through Israeli checkpoints in the West Bank to reach there.

Ahead of the formal recognition, Norway's Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store in May highlighted the need to maintain prospects for a two-state solution.

"In the midst of a war, with tens of thousands killed and injured, we must keep alive the only alternative that offers a political solution for Israelis and Palestinians alike: Two states, living side by side, in peace and security," Store had said.

However, Israel's War Cabinet approved steps late in June proposed by Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich aimed at "legalizing" settlement outposts in the West Bank and imposing sanctions on the Palestinian Authority.

Tel Aviv's official broadcasting authority KAN reported that the Security Cabinet approved Smotrich's plan to counter Palestinian statehood recognition and actions against Israel in international courts.

The far-right minister threatened in early July to establish a new settlement for each country recognizing Palestine as a state.

Days later, Israel's Foreign Minister Israel Katz nixed a request for a visit by his Norwegian counterpart Espen Barth Eide.

Katz turned down Eide's request to visit Israel over "Oslo's recognition of a Palestinian state, refusal to recognize Hamas as a terror organization, and support for South Africa’s case against Israel in The Hague," the Times of Israel news website reported.

Palestinians want to establish an independent state in the occupied West Bank and the Gaza Strip, which is opposed by Israel.

Last month, the Knesset (Israel’s parliament) voted to reject the establishment of a Palestinian state, calling it an “existential threat” to Israel.

In a landmark opinion on July 19, the International Court of Justice declared Israel's decades-long occupation of Palestinian land "illegal" and demanded the evacuation of all existing settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.