The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Norway, Espen Barth Eide (Oslo, 60 years old), believes that his country's recognition, together with Spain and Ireland, of the State of Palestine It is support for the Palestinians and “a political solution to this conflict.” The three European countries will make this recognition official on May 28, a date that is not coincidental: “A few days before that, there will be several meetings in Brussels on Palestine and Israel. The aim is to support a peace plan in the region,” the Labor politician explained in a telephone interview with EL PAÍS, held this Wednesday.

To ask. Why is recognition coming now and not sooner? Well, in 2014, Sweden did it?

Answer. The perfect moment has never happened. Until recently, we thought it had to be a bilateral agreement, the result of a negotiation process. But the situation on the ground is worse than ever. Now we see the opportunity to create hope for peace. Several Arab countries, along with some European ones, have floated the idea that an irreversible process towards a Palestinian state can be combined with strong security guarantees for Israel; promoting the strengthening of the Palestinian National Authority and the demobilization of Hamas.

Q. Is it a way to revive the two-state solution?

R. Precisely. All these pieces of the puzzle can revive hopes for a peace process and two states. Not everything will change the next day. But this gives weight to Palestine in future agreements. In recent years there has been a very unequal relationship between Israel and Palestine. That's why I think this recognition is constructive. Moreover, we must not forget that there is a very important historical relationship between Madrid and Oslo in this regard. Before the Oslo Accords [firmados en 1993], there were several meetings in Madrid. We have waited more than thirty years and no progress has been made, but rather the opposite: the situation has become much worse. We continue to believe in two states coexisting in peace.

Q. Why has there been no progress during this time?

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R. In the 1990s there were social and political actors [en Israel y Palestina] who believed in that solution. What we didn't see in '93 is that other leaders could come along who didn't believe in it and were more interested in continuing the confrontation. The system was based on the good faith of the participants, but that good faith did not always exist. [El presidente de EE UU, Bill] Clinton had the will to solve the problem through a constructive process. But regional actors were not involved. Now they are. On to those Arab countries [vecinos de Israel y Palestina]who already supported the Palestinian State now care more about it, as they see that Iran's influence in the area has increased, fueling the violence. [entre israelíes y palestinos]. Iran is an enemy of Israel, but also of Palestine, and of other countries in the area.

Q. What are you thinking of the Abraham Accordssigned to normalize relations between Israel and several Arab countries in 2020?

R. Much can be said in their favor, but a serious problem is that the Abraham Accords had forgotten the Palestinians. Normalizing the relationship between Israel and the Arab states was a historical fact, but it is not possible without Palestine. The initiative is still alive, but now the Arab countries are not going to do it without the Palestinians. That is why Norway, Spain and Ireland, and many others, want to support this initiative, which is primarily Arab. I like to imagine that we are faced with a puzzle. Pieces are present, but others are missing; Some participants have destroyed pieces and others are hesitant to place their pieces. But you see the final drawing.

Q. However, the Israeli government has sharply criticized the decision to recognize Palestine, and Hamas also opposes the two states.

R. Hamas's existence is based on the lack of progress of a Palestinian state. If there were any, with democratic institutions, with security services, with internal controls… Instead, the lack of a solution has created a frustration from which Iran and its countries powers of attorney [afines] They benefit from it. If we establish a Palestinian state based on agreement and dialogue, terrorist forces may not disappear, but they would be softened and demobilized. We have seen this in many countries that have experienced violence or terrorism and whose actors have converted to the democratic process. That can happen in Palestine. In Israel, the problem is that the parties and groups that supported the two-state solution no longer have the strength they once had. [El Gobierno de] Israel is leaning to the right, becoming more and more extreme. [El primer ministro israelí] Netanyahu will leverage his relationship with these radicalized parties – many of which are very small, but essential for governance. That makes it difficult. But Israel is much more than its government; it is eternal. Politicians come and go. This is a longer-term career. It is right to do this now.

Q. Do you think the coordinated action of Spain, Norway and Ireland could have a domino effect on other European countries?

R. We are very confident that there will soon be other states that will follow our lead; same thing next week.

Q. Will it work?

R. Do not know. But if we don't try, we will regret it for years to come.

Q. Are you afraid of the consequences of this decision?

R. Israel has recalled its ambassador for consultations. We're not going to do the same. The Israeli ambassador is the one I have met the most since I took office. When I get back to Norway, I'll even invite you to my office for coffee.

Q. Would Norway stop Netanyahu, complying with a possible order from the International Criminal Court?

R. All countries that support this court – 124 of them, including all Western countries except the United States and Turkey – are obliged to adhere to and respect it. Therefore comply [con sus resoluciones].

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