The Norwegian foreign minister held an unofficial diplomatic meeting with two senior Palestinian Authority officials in Jerusalem, violating an Israeli law banning such meetings. The meeting took place at a hospital on the Mount of Olives and marked the first PA event in Jerusalem in almost a decade. Norway denied any senior officials were present. The foreign minister stated that Israel's presence in East Jerusalem violates international law. Israeli politicians criticized Norway for endorsing a book accusing Israel of war crimes in Gaza.
The Norwegian foreign minister held an unofficial diplomatic meeting with two senior Palestinian Authority officials in Jerusalem, violating an Israeli law banning such meetings. The meeting took place at a hospital on the Mount of Olives and marked the first PA event in Jerusalem in almost a decade. Norway denied any senior officials were present. The foreign minister stated that Israel's presence in East Jerusalem violates international law. Israeli politicians criticized Norway for endorsing a book accusing Israel of war crimes in Gaza.
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The Norwegian foreign minister held an unofficial diplomatic meeting with two senior Palestinian Authority officials in Jerusalem, violating an Israeli law banning such meetings. The meeting took place at a hospital on the Mount of Olives and marked the first PA event in Jerusalem in almost a decade. Norway denied any senior officials were present. The foreign minister stated that Israel's presence in East Jerusalem violates international law. Israeli politicians criticized Norway for endorsing a book accusing Israel of war crimes in Gaza.
Direitos autorais:
Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
Formatos disponíveis
Baixe no formato PDF, TXT ou leia online no Scribd
PA Holds Diplomatic Event In Jerusalem Store held a press conference with the
PA dignitary, complete with a podium
and Norwegian and Palestinian Authority BY SAMUEL SOKOL banned by Israeli law from engaging in Norwegians Deny Meeting With flags. Speaking to reporters, with the ISRAEL CORRESPONDENT official activities within the municipal Senior Officials Gush Etzion city of Maaleh Adumim boundaries of Jerusalem. When asked if Norway was aware that behind him, the foreign minister Last Monday, Norwegian foreign min- The Knesset passed the Law official meetings with Palestinian announced that Mahmoud Abbas’s goal is ister Jonas Gahr Store held official diplo- Implementing the Agreement on the Authority figures are forbidden within a peaceful and negotiated settlement of matic talks with Ahmed a-Rawidi, the Gaza Strip and the Jericho Area Jerusalem, the Norwegian Embassy mis- the Middle East conflict. Palestinian Authority minister for (Restriction of Activity) in 1995, which leadingly stated that the country’s However, Abbas stands accused of Jerusalem, and Rafik Husseini, the chief states that the Palestinian Authority ambassador was not present at the inciting terrorism by Israeli Prime of staff to PA President Mahmoud Abbas, “shall not hold a meeting in the area of Augusta Victoria hospital and referred to Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. on the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem. The The Palestinian Authority president meeting was the first that the Palestinian was quoted in Al-Hayat Al-Jadida on Authority has held in Israel’s capital for January 17 defending his government’s almost a decade. decision to name a square in Ramallah In 2001, then Prime Minister Ariel “Norway considers the Israeli presence in East after Dalal Mughrabi, a terrorist guilty of Sharon closed down the PA’s Jerusalem 37 counts of murder. headquarters, located in the Orient Jerusalem to be in violation of international “Norway considers the Israeli presence House, as a response to the Second in East Jerusalem to be in violation of Intifada. It is Israeli policy to prevent PA law, as does the entire international international law, as does the entire inter- events and institutions from operating in national community,” Store told the eastern half of the city. community,” Store told reporters. reporters. Recently the European Union and the The minister has come under intense Russian Federation have requested that criticism from Israeli politicians due to Israel reopen the Orient house. his endorsement of the book Eyes In During a joint press conference with the State of Israel unless written permis- a press release from the foreign ministry Gaza, which describes Israel’s Cast Lead Store last Sunday, when asked by Israel’s sion for this has been given by the State stating that the minister visited East operation as a “monstrous, systematically Channel 10 regarding the reopening of of Israel or by someone authorized by it Jerusalem, without any mention of Rafik implemented, and comprehensive mas- the Orient House, Foreign Minister to do so.” The Palestinian Authority is Husseini—effectively denying that the sacre.” Lieberman stated, “There will be no more defined as “any person acting on its meeting took place. Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister Danny gestures. There is simply no room to talk behalf or under its auspices or using its Further queries only resulted in Ayalon described the book as “outra- about opening Orient House, freezing the name” for the purposes of this ban. Annika Evensen, the embassy’s first secre- geous” and said that it “borders on incite- construction in Jerusalem, or any addi- According to the agreement referred to tary, saying that she had “nothing to add ment made up of fabrication and lies.” tional gestures. Now is the time for a ges- in the Israeli legislation, the Palestinian to what is in the press release.” A spokesman for the Israeli Ministry of ture from the Palestinians.” Authority’s jurisdiction does not apply According to Norwegian journalist Foreign Affairs told the Five Towns Jewish Dr. Aaron Lerner, the director of IMRA outside of the Jericho area territory and Vidar Norberg, Store was welcomed to Times that the Norwegian government (Independent Media Review and the Gaza Strip. “Israel [did not] enter into the hospital by Husseini, who compared did not coordinate the meeting with Analysis), told the 5TJT that the any written understanding with the PLO Israeli policies to those of apartheid Israeli authorities and that “senior level Palestine Liberation Organization and as a result of Oslo that abrogated that South Africa and called for an interna- officials in the MFA expressed regret and the PLO-run Palestinian Authority are law,” Lerner said. tional boycott of Israel goods. discontent to Norway.” ❖