Israel revokes accreditation for Norwegian diplomats dealing with Palestinians

Citing what it described as “a flurry of recent anti-Israel and unilateral steps taken by the government of Norway,” Israel’s Foreign Ministry on Monday announced that it will revoke the diplomatic accreditation of eight Norwegian diplomats based in Tel Aviv who dealt with the Palestinian Authority.

According to the ministry, the dramatic move serves as a response to Oslo’s recognition of a Palestinian state as well as recent “severe comments by senior Norwegian officials.”

The Norwegian ambassador was summoned to the Foreign Ministry in Jerusalem and informed that the diplomats would have their accreditation revoked in seven days and their visas in three months. All eight were given the option to apply for new accreditation.

“There is a price for anti-Israeli conduct. Instead of fighting Palestinian terrorism after October 7 and supporting Israel’s fight against the Iranian axis of evil — Norway chose to award the murderers and rapists of Hamas in the form of recognition of a Palestinian state,” Foreign Minister Israel Katz said in a statement.

“Norway conducts a unilateral policy on the Palestinian issue – therefore I ordered the termination of any representation toward the Palestinian Authority on behalf of the Norwegian embassy in Israel. Those who attack us and conduct a unilateral policy against us will pay a price,” he said, adding that Oslo had “joined the unfounded lawsuit against us at the ICC.”

In response, Norway’s foreign minister said Thursday that Israel’s decision was an “extreme action that primarily affects our ability to help the Palestinian population,” warning that it would “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.

Later on Thursday, Barth Eide said he had summoned an Israeli embassy official over the decision.

“A short while ago, I summoned Israel’s representative to Norway and met her at the foreign ministry to protest against this decision,” he told journalists, adding that he had asked the representative for an explanation but she “was unable to provide one on the spot.”

“We have all along expected there may be reactions to the position we have chosen [on the recognition of a Palestinian state], but we are surprised that they chose to do this, and especially right now,” he said.

Speaking with The Times of Israel, a European diplomat stationed in Israel also expressed concern over Israel’s decision.

“The question is whether it will do the same with all the 143 states that recognize Palestine,” the diplomat said on condition of anonymity. “Any initiative to block the dialogue of the West with the PA doesn’t help in the current situation; dialogue is needed.”

Norway, along with Spain and Ireland, formally recognized a Palestinian state in late May, in a move that Eide said constituted “a milestone in the relationship between Norway and Palestine.”

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu responded by calling such recognition “a reward for terrorism,” noting that polling had shown a majority of Palestinians had supported the October 7 massacre and charging that an independent Palestine “will be a terror state.”

Last month, Foreign Minister Katz turned down Eide’s request to visit Israel, saying the decision was made in protest of a series of decisions by Norway’s government relating to the war against Hamas in Gaza.

Katz pointed to Norway’s recognition of a Palestinian state, failure to list Hamas as a terrorist organization, and backing of the case against Israel at The Hague as reasons for his refusal to let Eide into the country on an official visit.

Throughout the war in Gaza, Eide has been critical of Israel’s conduct. While affirming Israel’s right to self-defense against the Hamas terror group, Norway voted in favor of the October 27 United Nations resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza — alongside the release of Hamas-held hostages — before Israel’s ground offensive even began.

On Tuesday, Norway submitted an amicus brief in support of ⁦the International Criminal Court’s jurisdiction in Palestine.

The International Criminal court has accepted the requests of 70 states, organizations and individuals to file amicus briefs regarding ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan’s decision to seek arrest warrants for Netanyahu, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, and three Hamas leaders (of the three, only Yahya Sinwar remains alive).

In January, Netanyahu’s cabinet approved a plan to transfer to Norway Palestinian tax funds that are designated by the Palestinian Authority (PA) for transfer to its staff in Gaza, but which Israel has refused to release out of concern that they could reach Hamas.

Following Norway’s recognition of a Palestinian state, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich called for voiding the mechanism set up with Norway and on Sunday he ordered the seizure of around NIS 100 million ($26 million) of tax funds meant to be transferred to the Palestinian Authority, saying that the money will be given to the families of terror victims.

On Wednesday, the Ynet news site reported that the Foreign Ministry would end this arrangement with Norway over the issue.

Agencies and Times of Israel staff contributed to this report.