Behind Norway's announcement to recognize the state of Palestine

Predictably, when the Palestinian Authority and Hamas welcomed the move, the Israeli government responded by quickly withdrawing its ambassadors from Oslo, Dublin and Madrid, while the above countries also recalled their ambassadors in Tel Aviv.

Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store explained Norway's decision as "supporting the moderate forces that are retreating in a long and brutal conflict".

Mr Store said the move was an investment in “the only solution” that could bring lasting peace in the Middle East – two countries living side by side in peace and security.

Analysts are not surprised by Norway's move, which comes 30 years after the country hosted the Oslo Accords, the early 1990s peace accord that ultimately failed.

“Norwegians have been moving toward a more pro-Palestinian position for a long time,” said Bjorn Olav Utvik, professor of Middle East studies at the University of Oslo. “The political establishment has been more hesitant because of its close ties to the United States. Since the current conflict began, popular opinion has shifted even further toward the Palestinian cause.”

Mr. Utvik said that recognition is an important symbolic move and is easier to implement than, for example, “cutting off all Israel-related investments by Norway’s sovereign wealth fund.”

With European countries deeply divided over Israel's war in Gaza, Norway has moved closer to those who speak out in support of Palestinian self-determination and fundamental rights.

“The only viable long-term solution that can bring peace to the Palestinians and Israelis is a two-state solution,” Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide recently said. “Of course, these two states must have their own territory. A lot will have to change.”

Oslo's stance on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict

Looking back, Oslo's stance on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict remains firm.

Norwegian authorities have maintained high levels of support for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) and were quick to call for a ceasefire after the latest conflict broke out.

Norway has previously condemned Israel’s occupation before the International Court of Justice. It does not export arms to Israel and has sanctioned some “extremist” settlers.

“Norway believes that Israeli settlement activity on occupied land is illegal under international law and an obstacle to the peace process, and firmly believes that the two-state solution is the only lasting solution,” commented Hasini Ransala Liyanage, PhD candidate at the Department of Political Science at the University of Oslo.

Ms. Liyanage also said that Norway is a prominent mediator in many conflicts around the world and has always focused on peaceful solutions. According to her, Norway's mediation efforts are characterized by a willingness to provide long-term support, facilitate peace negotiations and work closely with conflicting parties.

Oslo's announcement that it would recognize the State of Palestine also underscores its support for the Arab Peace Initiative, which would see Arab countries recognize Israel if it withdraws from lands it occupied in the 1967 Middle East war, accepts the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital, and the right of return for Palestinian refugees.

“It seems to me that Norway’s announcement of recognition of the State of Palestine is intended to draw attention to the initiative, contributing to the diplomatic momentum to strengthen European support for the Arab peace plan,” said Sverke Runde Saxegaard, a doctoral researcher at the University of Oslo.

According to Mr. Saxegaard, the Norwegian government has repeatedly emphasized that the latest move is not a signal of support for Hamas, but a signal of support for the forces and actors seeking a peaceful solution to the conflict in both Israel and Palestine. It can be said that Norway's move brings a ray of hope in dark times.

Israel's latest and bloodiest conflict in Gaza has left nearly 36,000 people dead, most of them women and children. Israel's offensive began after Hamas launched an unprecedented offensive into southern Israel that left 1,139 people dead and dozens captured.

Strong diplomatic move

Oslo's recognition of the State of Palestine could also bode well for Norway's image and standing in the global South.

Ms Liyanage said Oslo's "strong diplomatic move" signalled support for people in the Middle East, the Muslim world and citizens of the Global South suffering from prolonged violence and conflict.

“Norway will act as a state that acts against war crimes and violations of international humanitarian law and as a state that recognizes the legitimate right of other states to protect their citizens and borders,” she said.

Emphasizing that Arab governments welcomed Norway's recent move, Hugh Lovatt, senior policy fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations, said the move was a measure to protest Europe's double standards and blind support for Israel.

The final collapse of the Oslo peace process

It seems that Norway has realized that it is time to approach the Israel-Palestine issue in new ways and abandon the failed approaches of the previous decades.

The Norwegian prime minister has indicated that he believes that in the absence of a peace process, waiting for one side to initiate a war is no longer a viable alternative, said Jorgen Jensehaugen, a senior researcher at the Peace Research Institute Oslo.

Norway's move also symbolizes the final collapse of the Oslo peace process, and the urgent need to develop a new post-Oslo peace strategy - including concrete steps to challenge Israel's occupation and support Palestinian rights, he said.

“Hopefully, strong support for Palestinian self-determination can demonstrate to the Palestinian public that diplomacy can deliver results and provide a credible alternative to armed violence,” he said.