Oslo, Norway - May 28, 2024

Storyline:
Norwegians rallied outside the country's parliament in Oslo on Tuesday in support of the government's official recognition of Palestine as a sovereign state.

The rally came after Norway, along with Spain and Ireland, announced last Wednesday that they would officially recognize Palestine as a state based on the pre-1967 borders from May 28.

Waving the Norwegian and Palestinian flags, the rally participants burst out in cheers for the government's move. Some said the decision came too late, noting that Norway's neighbor Sweden had already recognized Palestine back in 2014, and Hungary and Poland even before that.

Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store said that Norway's decision is an investment in the "only solution" that can bring lasting peace in the Middle East, and that Norway wants to send a strong message to countries that are still hesitant to recognize Palestine as a state, especially those in Europe.

Norway's recognition comes over 30 years after the signing of the first Oslo Accord in 1993. The European nation and many other countries had pursued a strategy in which recognition would follow a peace agreement.

Given the absence of a peace process and a political solution in the months-long Gaza conflict, Norway changed its mind saying it could no longer wait for the conflict to be resolved before recognizing Palestine.

According to the Norwegian government, the territorial demarcation between the state of Palestine and the state of Israel should be based on the pre-1967 borders, with Jerusalem serving as the capital of both states.

The Norwegian government promised to further mobilize European support for the Arab Peace Initiative which seeks to end tensions in the Middle East.

Shotlist:
Oslo, Norway - May 28, 2024:
1. Various of rally outside Norway's parliament building in support of recognition of Palestinian statehood;
2. Norwegian national flag on top of parliament building;
3. SOUNDBITE (English) rally-goer (no name given):
"[The decision came] Way too late, but better late than never, right?";
4. Norwegian national flags on top of building;
5. Police;
6. People walking into parliament building;
7. Various of street scene, Palestinian flag on building;
8. Pro-Palestine sign on window;
9. Various of maps showing Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories on street;
10. Various of pedestrians, buildings.

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