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From the Liveblog of
Tuesday, July 16, 2024
From the Liveblog of
Tuesday, July 16, 2024
Katz says he nixed Norway FM’s request to visit, over Palestinian state recognition, refusal to declare Hamas a terror group
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on GoogleLazar Berman is The Times of Israel's diplomatic reporter
Norwegian Minister of Foreign Affairs Espen Barth Eide talks to media as he arrives to attend an informal meeting of NATO Ministers of Foreign Affairs at Czernin Palace in Prague, Czech Republic on May 31, 2024. (Michal Cizek / AFP)
Foreign Minister Israel Katz says he turned down Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth 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.
According to Katz, Eide has asked several times since May, when Norway, Spain, and Ireland coordinated recognition of a Palestinian state.
He finally approached Katz at last week’s NATO summit in Washington, and told Katz, “We have a lot to discuss.”
“You’ve also done a lot to us,” responded Katz, according to his office.
Eide can’t visit the Palestinian Authority either until Israel consents.
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