Norway and Palestine have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at strengthening cooperation and enhancing dialogue, according to the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The agreement, signed in New York, follows Norway’s official recognition of the State of Palestine in May 2024.
The MoU is seen as a significant milestone in the long-standing relationship between the two nations. It is expected to bolster collaboration on both bilateral and international levels.
The Norwegian Foreign Ministry confirmed that the MoU includes provisions for annual meetings between the two sides to discuss future cooperation opportunities and explore new joint initiatives.
Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide stated that the agreement reaffirms Norway’s firm support for the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination and the establishment of an independent, democratic Palestinian state.
The development comes amid growing international momentum toward Palestinian statehood. Earlier this week, the UK Prime Minister’s Office announced that Britain plans to recognize the State of Palestine by September, ahead of the UN General Assembly, if Israel does not agree to a ceasefire in Gaza or take tangible steps to end the humanitarian crisis there.
On 25 July, French President Emmanuel Macron declared that France will also formally recognize Palestine at the upcoming UN gathering.
To date, 147 countries officially recognize Palestine as a state. However, the United States is not among them. In 2024, the US exercised its veto power at the UN Security Council to block Palestine’s bid for full UN membership.
Since that time, ten countries have extended recognition to Palestine, including Ireland, Norway, Spain, and Armenia.
Russia has reiterated its position that a resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict must be based on the UN-endorsed two-state solution, which calls for the creation of a Palestinian state within the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital.
Follow the latest news on Google News
