Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister Tzipi Hotovely told Norway's FM to pressure Palestinians to recognize a Jewish state. Photo: Wikimedia Commons.

JNS.org – Newly appointed Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister Tzipi Hotovely (Likud) met with visiting Norwegian Foreign Minister Borge Brende on Tuesday. She told Brende, “We expect you to put pressure on the Palestinian leadership to recognize the State of Israel as the state of the Jewish people.”

On the future of Jerusalem, Hotovely said, “The Norwegian government has to realize that there is an Israeli consensus regarding the unity of Jerusalem.”

Hotovely called on European nations, including Norway, not to support unilateral steps by the Palestinians. She also thanked Brende for Norway’s fight against antisemitism and for his visit to Israel during Operation Protective Edge last summer.

Meanwhile, European Union foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini kicked off a two-day visit to Israel and the Palestinian Authority on Wednesday, during which she will meet with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem and PA President Mahmoud Abbas in Ramallah.