Norway will recognize an independent Palestinian state in the hope that this will help bring peace with Israel, Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere said on Wednesday.
Ireland and Spain will also announce the recognition of a Palestinian state, sources said on Wednesday.
European Union member states Slovenia and Malta have also signaled in recent weeks their intention to make the recognition, arguing that a two-state solution is essential for lasting peace in the region.
“In the middle of a war, with tens of thousands of dead and wounded, we must preserve 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. A press conference.
Before the announcement, about 143 of the 193 member states of the United Nations recognized a Palestinian state.
European countries have approached the issue differently. Some, like Sweden, recognized a Palestinian state a decade ago, while France has no intention of doing so unless it can be an effective tool for making progress toward peace.
The moves come as Israeli forces led attacks on the northern and southern edges of the Gaza Strip in May, triggering a new exodus of hundreds of thousands of people and sharply limiting the flow of aid, raising the risk of famine.
Norway, which is not a member of the EU, has long said it would only recognize Palestine as a country if it could have a positive impact on the peace process, in line with what the United States has said on the issue.
Norway is a close ally of the US, and the Nordic country has tried on several occasions in recent decades to help broker peace between Israel and the Palestinians.
