The Israeli decision is an unusually harsh diplomatic marker. Norway viewed the message as a pure punishment.
"This is an extreme action that primarily hits our ability to help the Palestinian population", he comments in writing.
"It shows once again that the Netanyahu government actively works against the work for a two-state solution".
Israel: "It costs"
According to the Israeli Foreign Ministry, the work permits are being withdrawn due to Norway taking "anti-Israeli" steps, such as recognizing Palestine as a state.
Israel's Foreign Minister, Israel Katz, says that Norway "chooses to reward Hamas murderers and rapists" through the recognition of a Palestinian state, reports The Times of Israel.
"It costs with anti-Israeli behavior", said Katz in a statement.
EU condemns
The EU's Foreign Minister Josep Borrell condemns the Israeli action.
"I condemn this unjustified decision in the strongest possible terms", writes Borrell in a statement, noting that contacts with the Palestinian authority are being disrupted by the action.
The US State Department also criticizes the Israeli decision to stop Norwegian diplomats, and notes at the same time that Norway plays an important role in the Middle East and in attempts to reach solutions to the conflict.
We do not believe that efforts to stop them (Norway) from acting in that role are particularly helpful, says the American State Department's spokesperson Matthew Miller at a press conference in Washington.
Norway decided to recognize Palestine as its own state in May, which Spain and Ireland also did.
The Norwegian response follows diplomatic rules of play. The Norwegian Foreign Ministry called on the Israeli ambassador on Thursday in a marker. Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide (Labour Party) himself received Israel's ambassador to demonstrate the weight of the Norwegian criticism. Barth Eide also said that "further measures will be taken".
