Tuesday July 19, 2011
I've Been Thinking:

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas was in Norway yesterday.
Abbas was there to shore up support and test the winds of Northern Europe on the subject of the Palestinian proposal to declare unilateral statehood at the United Nations during the General Assembly in September.

The leadership of Norway was very diplomatic in saying that that although they view the statehood declaration as legitimate, Norway is not ready to announce its support for an independent Palestinian state at this time.

This is a significant blow to Abbas and to the declaration movement.

Norway has always been a major supporter of the PA. They give about $100 million in aid to the Palestinian Authority plus another $25 million in aid to the United Nations for the PA. Percentage wise, Norway gives to PA far more per capita than almost any other Western or Arab country.

When Norway acknowledges publicly that they are unlikely to support the Palestinian declaration of statehood it should be seen as an omen for conflict.

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