'Israel' revokes accreditation for Norwegian diplomats dealing with PA
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In yet another retaliatory move against Norway's recognition of Palestine, the Israeli Foreign Ministry insists Oslo would "pay a price."
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Israeli Foreign Minister, Israel Katz, speaking at a news conference (AFP)
Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz announced, on Thursday, that the diplomatic status of Norwegian envoys to the Palestinian Authority will be revoked due to Oslo's "anti-Israel behavior" since the onset of the war on Gaza in October.
"I ordered the termination of any representation on behalf of the Norwegian Embassy in 'Israel' vis-a-vis the Palestinian Authority", Katz said in a statement.
"There is a price for anti-Israel behavior," the top diplomat stressed, citing Norway's recent recognition of a Palestinian state and its support for a pending International Criminal Court case implicating Israeli officials in war crimes and crimes against humanity.
In a related development, Norway's foreign minister denounced "Israel's" move to revoke the diplomatic status of Oslo's envoys to the Palestinian Authority as an "extreme action", warning that it would "have consequences."
"Today's decision will have consequences for our relationship with the Netanyahu government. We are considering what measures Norway will take to respond to the situation that the Netanyahu government has now created," Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide said in a statement, in reference to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
The Israeli Foreign Ministry announced it would revoke the diplomatic status of eight Norwegian diplomats assigned to represent Norway to the Palestinian Authority. This decision follows what "Israel" described as serious anti-Israeli statements by senior Norwegian officials. In an official note delivered to the Norwegian embassy in Tel Aviv, the ministry stated that the revocation would take effect seven days from the date of the notice.
"Norway is and will always be a friend of Israel and the Israeli people," Eide said in his response.
"At the same time, Norway has been clear in our criticism of the occupation (of Palestinian territories), the way in which the war in Gaza has been conducted and the suffering this has inflicted on the Palestinian civilian population," he continued.
It is worth noting that the Israeli Foreign Ministry has accused Norway of adopting biased policies and making one-sided statements since October 7.
Previously, in May, "Israel" instructed Spain's consulate in al-Quds to cease offering consular services to Palestinians starting June 1, as a punitive response to Spain's recognition of a Palestinian state, according to Foreign Minister Israel Katz.
Spain, Ireland, and Norway had all announced their recognition of a Palestinian state, prompting strong objections from Israeli officials who consistently oppose Palestinian statehood.
