Last Sunday in Brussels, Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide presented Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammed Mustafa with documents attesting to his country’s recognition of the State of Palestine.
Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide said in a statement that “ For more than 30 years, Norway has been one of the strongest supporters of a Palestinian state. Today, as Norway officially recognizes Palestine as a state, this is an important milestone in Norway-Palestine relations “.
Although some 140 countries have recognized a Palestinian state, more than two-thirds of the United Nations, none of the major Western powers has done so.
Nonetheless, the joining of three European countries to the group represents a victory for Palestinian efforts in the world of public opinion, and will likely put pressure on European Union heavyweights France and Germany to They are reviewing their position.
Until now, only seven members of the 27-member European Union officially recognized a Palestinian state.
Five of them are former Eastern Bloc countries which announced their recognition in 1988, just like Cyprus, before joining the EU. Sweden recognized it in 2014.
Relations between the EU and Israel have deteriorated with diplomatic recognitions from two EU members, and Madrid insisted on Monday that the EU should take action against Israel for its continued deadly attacks in the city of Rafah, south of Gaza.
After Monday’s meeting of EU foreign ministers, Irish Foreign Minister Micheál Martin said that “for the first time at an EU meeting, in a real way, I saw a meaningful discussion about sanctions” against Israel.
Mr Harris, the Irish leader, insisted on Tuesday that the EU should consider economic sanctions against Israel:
“Europe could do much more,” he added.
Norway, which is not an EU member but often aligns its foreign policy with that of the bloc, handed over diplomatic documents to the Palestinian government over the weekend, ahead of its formal recognition.
Additional sources • AP
