Norway and Ireland Recognize Palestine, Spark Diplomatic Tensions with Israel

Norway officially recognized a Palestinian state, with Ireland expected to follow, prompting Israel to recall its ambassadors. The move, seen as a message that terrorism pays, could hinder efforts to retrieve Israeli hostages and achieve a cease-fire. Other European countries may soon adopt similar stances.

Israel's Foreign Minister Israel Katz has ordered Israel's ambassadors from Ireland and Norway to immediately return to Israel, as Norway said it would recognise a Palestinian state and Ireland was expected to do the same.

"Ireland and Norway intend to send a message today to the Palestinians and the whole world: terrorism pays," Katz said. He said that the recognition could impede efforts to return Israel's hostages being held in Gaza and makes a cease-fire less likely by "rewarding the jihadists of Hamas and Iran." He also threatened to recall Israel's ambassador to Spain if the country takes a similar position.

Earlier Wednesday, Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre said "there cannot be peace in the Middle East if there is no recognition." Gahr Støre said the Scandinavian country will officially recognize a Palestinian state as of May 28. Several European Union countries have in the past weeks indicated that they plan to make the recognition, arguing a two-state solution is essential for lasting peace in the region. Norway, which is not a member of the European Union but mirror its moves, has been an ardent supporter of a two-state solution between Israel and the Palestinians.

"The terror has been committed by Hamas and militant groups who are not supporters of a two-state solution and the state of Israel," the Norwegian government leader said.

"Palestine has a fundamental right to an independent state," Gahr Støre told a news conference.

The move comes as Israeli forces have led assaults on the northern and southern edges of the Gaza Strip in May, causing a new exodus of hundreds of thousands of people, and sharply restricted the flow of aid, raising the risk of famine.

The Scandinavian country "will therefore regard Palestine as an independent state with all the rights and obligations that entails," Gahr Store said. Norway's recognition of a Palestine state comes more than 30 years after the first Oslo agreement was signed in 1993.

Since then, "the Palestinians have taken important steps towards a two-state solution," the Norwegian government said.

It said that the World Bank determined that Palestine had met key criteria to function as a state in 2011, that national institutions have been built up to provide the population with important services. "The war in Gaza and the constant expansion of illegal settlements in the West Bank still mean that the situation in Palestine is more difficult than it has been in decades," the Norwegian government said.

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