Israel targets Norway over recognition of Palestine

Israel's Foreign Minister Israel Katz said on Thursday the diplomatic status of Norwegian envoys to the Palestinian Authority would be revoked over Oslo's "anti-Israel behavior" since the Gaza war began last October.

"I ordered the termination of any representation on behalf of the Norwegian Embassy in Israel vis-a-vis the Palestinian Authority," Katz said in a statement.

"There is a price for anti-Israel behavior," the top diplomat added, citing Norway's recent recognition of a Palestinian state and backing of a pending International Criminal Court case implicating Israeli leaders in alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity.

A separate statement mentioned "serious statements by senior Norwegian officials" that the Foreign Ministry viewed as anti-Israeli.

The ministry statement said it would revoke the diplomatic status of "eight Norwegian diplomats... whose duties were to represent Norway vis-a-vis the Palestinian Authority."

In response to the decision, Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide said that it was an "extreme action" that would "have consequences."

"Today's decision will have consequences for our relationship with the Netanyahu government. We are considering what measures Norway will take to respond to the situation that the Netanyahu government has now created," Eide said in a statement.

In May, Israel ordered Spain's consulate in Jerusalem to stop offering consular services to Palestinians from June 1, as a "punitive" measure for Madrid's recognition of a Palestinian state, Katz said at the time.

Spain, Ireland and Norway had earlier announced their decision to recognize a Palestinian state, drawing a strong rebuke from Israel whose leaders have repeatedly spoken out against...