Norway Used to Shy Away From Taking Sides. Gaza Changed That
- Norway risks mediator status by recognizing Palestinian state
- European nations rethink their neutrality in a dangerous world
Jonas Gahr Store during a press conference in Oslo, on May 22.
Photographer: Erik Flaaris Johansen/AFP/Getty ImagesBy recognizing Palestinian statehood, Norway may have closed the door on its historic role as a mediator in the Middle East.
The country’s emphasis on being able to speak to both sides in the long-running dispute is symbolized by the 1993 peace accords signed in Oslo. That ‘interim’ arrangement — now more than 30 years old — serves as a reminder of its attempts to forge a permanent resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.