Norway hands papers to Palestinian PM for diplomatic recognition

Norway’s foreign minister Espen Barth Eide, right, hands a document to prime minister of the Palestinian Authority, Mohammed Mustafa (Virginia Mayo/AP)

Norway has handed over diplomatic papers to the Palestinian prime minister in the latest step towards recognising a Palestinian state – a largely symbolic move that has infuriated Israel.

Ireland, Spain and Norway last week pledged to recognise a Palestinian state, increasing Israel’s isolation more than seven months into its grinding war against Hamas in Gaza.