Foreign Minister Eide: Broad international agreement to strengthen Palestinian institutions and promote the two-state solution

‘Today I have chaired two important meetings on Palestine. Both meetings confirmed that there is broad agreement that the international community needs to do even more to ensure that the Palestinian authorities continue to provide essential services to the population and that we move towards a two-state solution,’ says Foreign Minister Eide.  

The purpose of the international partners' meeting, which the foreign minister chaired together with EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell, was to facilitate dialogue between Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa and the international partners. At the meeting, Prime Minister Mustafa presented the Palestinian government's plans and reform agenda, and their needs for international support.

• Joint Statement International Partner Meeting on Palestine (PDF)

‘At the partner meeting, I made a strong appeal to my colleagues to increase support for Palestine and Prime Minister Mustafa's work on reform,’ says Eide.   

Due to the war in Gaza, restriction of movement in the West Bank and Israel’s withholding of tax revenues that it collects on behalf of Palestine, the Palestinian economy is in a very critical condition.   

‘It is important for the citizens of Palestine that the government is able to govern and continue to provide healthcare, education, security, electricity and water. It is also crucial for stability and hopes for the future. There is an urgent need for a ceasefire in Gaza and to lay the foundation for a unified Palestinian government in the West Bank and Gaza,’ says the Foreign Minister.  

The participants in the international partners meeting also expressed clear messages to Israel. ‘It is crucial that Israel transfers the Palestinians' withheld tax revenues, removes restrictions on movement in the West Bank, prevents settler violence and stops the illegal settlements. This is also in Israel's interest. If the Palestinian Authority and government collapse, the security situation in the West Bank will also deteriorate significantly,’ says Eide.  

For 30 years, Norway has been a strong supporter of building a Palestinian state. Earlier this week, Norway transferred NOK 100 million in budget support. This money will be used, among other things, to finance health services.  

Foreign Minister Eide then chaired a ministerial meeting of the Euro-Arab Contact Group together with H.H. Prince Faisal, Saudi Arabia's foreign minister. The topic of this meeting was which concrete steps need to be taken to move forward with the two-state solution. Recognition of Palestine and the Arab peace vision were also on the agenda.

• Co-chair statement Norway-Saudi Arabia Ministerial Meeting on 26 May 2024.

‘Both meetings in Brussels today agreed that the Middle East needs a new direction. In the midst of a horrific war in Gaza, increasing settler violence in the West Bank and fear of terrorism in Israel, we must keep alive the only thing that can provide a safe home for both Israelis and Palestinians: two states existing side by side, in peace and security. This is the backdrop for Norway's recognition of Palestine earlier this week,’ says Foreign Minister Eide.   

At the meeting, Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister Faisal and Foreign Minister Eide urged Western countries that have not yet recognised Palestine as a state, to do so.   

‘I emphasised that recognising Palestine is a strong expression of support for the moderate forces in both Israel and Palestine. All participants in the meeting gave their full support to the two-state solution, which requires a Palestinian state. I also called on the Arab countries to continue their commitment to peace, where normalisation with Israel is an important key. We must all do what we can. It is urgent for the Palestinians that we now move forward towards a two-state solution to achieve lasting peace,’ says Eide.