On Wednesday, July 17, 2003, Ariel Sharon, the Prime Minister of Israel, arrived in Norway to discuss the issue of peace in the Middle East. During his brief meeting, Mr. Sharon will meet with his Norwegian counterpart, Mr. Jens Stoltenberg. In 1993, Norway hosted Israeli and Palestinian officials, leading to the 'Oslo Peace Conference.' Mr. Sharon arrived in Norway after a three-day meeting with Mr. Tony Blair, the Prime Minister of the UK, and other British officials. Mr. Sharon's goal for this trip was to hope for a severing of London’s ties with Mr. Yasser Arafat, the Palestinian leader; however, British officials stated that they would continue their communication with Mr. Arafat. Before concluding his visit to Britain, Mr. Sharon, in a phone call, urged Palestinian officials to disarm terrorist groups in order to advance the Middle East peace process.
Ariel Sharon, Prime Minister of Israel, Meets with Prime Minister of Norway - 2003-07-17
Ariel Sharon visited Norway to discuss Middle East peace with Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg. His aim was to encourage the UK to cut ties with Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, although British officials insisted they would maintain contact. This meeting highlights ongoing international efforts to mediate peace in the region.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
On July 17, 2003, Ariel Sharon met with Norwegian Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg to discuss Middle East peace efforts. Sharon aimed to persuade the UK to sever ties with Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, but British officials maintained their communication with Arafat.
- Sharon's visit followed a meeting with UK Prime Minister Tony Blair.
- Norway previously hosted the Oslo Peace Conference in 1993, highlighting its role in peace negotiations.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
The Oslo Peace Process, initiated in the early 1990s, aimed to establish a framework for peace between Israel and the Palestinians but has faced numerous challenges. The conflict remains a focal point of Middle Eastern politics.
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
Translated from the original and edited for English readers. View original source →
Translation confidence: 85%