Norwegian state secretary Raymond Johansen was Monday to meet with the Palestinian leadership including Prime Minister Ismail Haniya, the Norwegian foreign ministry said. The move came after the formation of a new Palestinian unity government including the Hamas movement and Fatah group, which was sworn in on Saturday. Norway, not a member of the European Union, over the weekend announced it planned to end the political and economic boycott of the Palestinian government. Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Store said in a statement that Oslo expected "the Palestinian authorities to respect basic international standards as regards compliance with previously concluded agreements, renunciation of violence and recognition of Israel's right to exist."
