Press Release

Norway has transferred NOK 240 million to the Palestinian Authority (PA), in accordance with its pledge made at the Paris Conference in December 2007. The funds have been provided to support implementation of the Palestinian Reform and Development Plan (PRDP). The support will enable the PA to maintain the services available to the Palestinian population in the areas of education, health and safety.

“Norway is concerned about developments in East Jerusalem. The Palestinian population is subject to ever-increasing pressure,” said Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre.

“Norway deplores Israel’s plans to increase building activity in East Jerusalem,” said Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre.

Norway will provide NOK 40 million (USD 7 million) to UN efforts to combat female genital mutilation and violence against women in developing countries. At the same time, Norway will contribute NOK 20 million (USD 3.5 million) to the new UN Fund for Gender Equality.

Donor group welcomes plan to establish Palestinian state The donor group for the Palestinian Authority (AHLC) today welcomed the political program of the Palestinian government for establishing a Palestinian state within the next two years.

Norway called on the parties in the Middle East to resume negotiations and to honour their commitments by freezing settlement expansion and ending violence against civilians. Statement to the Security Council by Ms. Berit Enge, Minister Counsellor, on 27 July 2009. Norway fully supports the current efforts to resume final status negotiations. A political framework for a two-state solution – based on the Road Map – is necessary in order to mobilize broad international support for Palestinian state building. Without such a political framework, we fear that international support may be eroded....

At a special meeting of Nordic Foreign Ministers in Oslo, the five Ministers issued a joint statement on support for Gaza and UNWRA.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has recently received a number of questions about Norway’s position with regard to Hamas.  A short summary of the facts is given below.   Norway has never recognised Hamas, or established relations at political level with the movement. (According to international law, it is only states, not governments, that can be recognised by other states). Norway deeply deplores the use of violence by Hamas, which is harming civilians in Israel. Norway calls on Hamas to comply with the international community’s three conditions: that it recognise Israel’s right ...

Norway’s Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg today met with Czech Prime Minister Mirek Topolánek, on the occasion of the Czech Republic’s role as EU presidency. A central topic was the crisis in the Middle East. Stoltenberg announced that Norway will increase its humanitarian aid to Gaza from NOK 30 to NOK 50 million. “We want to increase our aid to the population of Gaza, seriously hit by the fighting. The Government has therefore decided to grant an additional NOK 20 million to medicine, food and other emergency aid to the Palestinians”, Stoltenberg said. Stoltenberg and Topolánek stressed th...