Israel – Palestine: A negotiated two-state solution

The outstanding final status issues, including issues relating to borders, security, the status of Jerusalem, and refugees, must be resolved through negotiations between the parties. Norway’s view is that Israeli settlement activity on occupied land is illegal under international law and poses an obstacle to peace.

Since the Oslo Accords of 1993 and 1995, Norway has chaired the international donor group for Palestine, the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee (AHLC). The aim of the AHLC is to develop the institutional and economic foundation for a future Palestinian state based on a negotiated two-state solution. This will require cooperation between Palestine and Israel, and support from the donor countries. Building sustainable Palestinian institutions, strengthening the Palestinian economy and improving the situation for people living in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and in Gaza are key priorities. As chair of the AHLC, Norway has a mandate from the Security Council (Security Council resolution 1860) to coordinate international support to Gaza.

In recent years, Norway has maintained a total level of aid to the Palestinians of approximately NOK 800–900 million annually. This includes support to the Palestinian Authority, civil society organisations and the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), and funding provided through other multilateral channels.

Education, health and energy are priority areas for Norway’s long-term aid efforts, in addition to the provision of budget support to the Palestinian Authority. Norway will also continue to provide funding for efforts to strengthen human rights and gender equality.