Norway summons Israeli envoy over diplomatic status row

Norway said on Thursday it had summoned an Israeli embassy official to protest Israel's decision to revoke the diplomatic status of Norwegian envoys to the Palestinian Authority.

"A short while ago, I summoned Israel's representative to Norway and met her at the foreign ministry to protest against this decision. The Norwegian government is now evaluating what other measures we will take," Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide told a press conference.

The move comes after Israel revoked the accreditation of eight Norwegian diplomats working as representatives to the Palestinian Authority, drawing a sharp response from Norway's foreign minister who called it "an extreme act".

Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz said the decision to revoke the diplomats' status was made in response to what he described as Norway's anti-Israeli conduct, including its recognition of a Palestinian state.