Jerusalem Post: The Foreign Ministry has informed the Norwegian embassy that diplomats posted to the Palestinian Authority in Ramallah can not reside within sovereign Israel, including Tel Aviv.
Israel has revoked the diplomatic status of Norwegian diplomats serving the Palestinian Authority to protest Oslo’s decision to unilaterally recognize Palestinian statehood.
The Foreign Ministry has informed the Norwegian embassy that diplomats posted to the Palestinian Authority in Ramallah can not reside within sovereign Israel, including Tel Aviv.
Israel “informs the Embassy that the State of Israel will no longer facilitate Norway’s representation to the Palestinian Authority,” the Foreign Ministry wrote in a letter to the Norwegian Embassy in Tel Aviv.
“Israel will not accredit Norwegian diplomats in the State of Israel if they are sent to be posted to serve in Norway’s representative office in the Palestinian Authority,” the Foreign Ministry said.
“The diplomatic status in Israel of Norwegian officials posted to serve in Norway’s representative office in the Palestinian Authority shall be revoked seven days after the date of this note,” it said.
“Additionally, their current visa to Israel will be valid for three months from the date of his note,” the ministry added.
“If the Embassy wishes to accredit one or more of the aforementioned Norwegian officials, as diplomats posted to the Embassy of Norway in Israel, representing the Kingdom of Norway to the State of Israel, the Embassy may submit an appropriate request to the Ministry,” it said.
Note from the editor: Norwegian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Espen Barth Eide, says that “…there will be consequences”. Eide is known for not being very diplomatic in his actions and has made several severe mistakes in handling diplomatic relations with Israel. He has also personal been banned from entering Israel due to his unprofessional behaviour.