Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere announced on Wednesday that Norway will recognize an independent Palestinian state in the hopes that this will contribute to peace negotiations with Israel.
According to sources, Spain and Ireland will also declare their support for a Palestinian state on Wednesday.
Members of the European Union Slovenia and Malta have also stated in recent weeks that they want to recognize each other, claiming that a two-state solution is necessary for enduring peace in the area.
“In the middle of a war, with tens of thousands of dead and injured, we must keep alive the only thing that can provide a safe home for both Israelis and Palestinians: two states that can live in peace with each other,” Stoere said at a news conference.
Before the declaration, about 143 of the 193 UN members acknowledged the existence of a Palestinian state.
European nations have taken different approaches to this subject. While some countries, like Sweden, recognized the state of Palestine ten years ago, France does not currently plan to do the same unless it may be a useful weapon in advancing peace negotiations.
The actions coincide with the attacks by Israeli forces on the northern and southern borders of the Gaza Strip in May, which resulted in a fresh departure of hundreds of thousands of civilians and severely curtailed the supply of supplies, increasing the likelihood of hunger.
In line with what the US has said on the matter, non-EU member Norway has long stated that it would recognize Palestine as a nation only if it could positively influence the peace process.
Norway, a close friend of the United States, has attempted multiple times in recent decades to mediate peace between Israel and the Palestinians.
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