Norway has handed over diplomatic papers to the Palestinian Authority prime minister in the latest step toward recognizing a Palestinian state, a largely symbolic move that has infuriated Israel.
The handover of papers by Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide to the PA prime minister was made in Brussels, where Mohammad Mustafa is also meeting with foreign ministers of European Union nations and high-level EU officials on Monday to drum up support for the Palestinians. Norway itself is not part of the EU.
The diplomatic move by the three nations was a welcome boost of support for Palestinian officials who have sought for decades to establish statehood in East Jerusalem, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.
“Recognition means a lot for us. It is the most important thing that anybody can do for the Palestinian people,” says Mustafa. “It is a great deal for us.”
The formal recognition by Norway, Spain and Ireland — which all have a record of friendly ties with both the Israelis and the Palestinians, while long advocating for a Palestinian state alongside Israel — is planned for Tuesday.
Some 140 countries — more than two-thirds of the United Nations — recognize a Palestinian state but a majority of the 27 EU nations still do not. Several have said they would recognize it when the conditions are right.
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