Norway would acknowledge an independent Palestinian state in the belief that it will contribute to peace with Israel, Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere announced on Wednesday.
On Wednesday, reports suggested Ireland and Spain would also recognize a Palestinian state.
Slovenia and Malta, both members of the European Union, have signalled in recent weeks that they intend to recognize the agreement, claiming that a two-state solution is required for long-term stability in the region.
“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 remarked.
Prior to the statement, approximately 143 of the United Nations’ 193 member states recognized a Palestinian state.
European countries have taken diverse approaches to the issue. Some countries, such as Sweden, recognized a Palestinian state a decade ago, whereas France has no plans to do so until it is an effective tool for advancing peace.
The initiatives come after Israeli forces launched assaults on the northern and southern borders of the Gaza Strip in May, forcing a massive exodus of hundreds of thousands of civilians and severely restricting the delivery of food, raising the risk of hunger.
Non-EU member Norway has long stated that it will recognize Palestine as a country only if it has a positive influence on the peace process, which is consistent with what the United States has maintained on the subject.
Norway is a close ally of the United States, and the Nordic country has attempted to broker peace between Israel and the Palestinians multiple times in recent decades.
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