Despite considerable protests, the Norwegian authorities decided to close down their office in Gaza during the term of the last government. The reasons for so doing so thin and few savings have been made. Norwegian People's Aid and a number of other organisations argued that this was the wrong signal to send to the hard pressed population of Gaza and the Palestinian independent authorities.
It is therefore good news to hear that the sitting government has resolved to open an office in Gaza once again (as a sub-division of the representational office in Al Ram on the West Bank).
Pleasure at the opening of the Gaza office, however, has been somewhat overshadowed by the prevailing critical situation for the 1.4 million inhabitants in Gaza. We are so used to hearing about how bad things are in Gaza that public feeling for this crisis has gradually become numb. This summer, before the invasion of Lebanon, we heard tell of the destruction of power stations, water supplies and sanitary systems and of an humanitarian crisis which had arisen as a result of the collective punishment meted out following the capture of a soldier from the Israeli occupying forces. This was a further turn of the screw, tightening the vice in which the Palestinian people find themselves trapped. Prior to that, the democratically elected (January 2006) government was isolated by the EU, USA and Norway because our democratic governments did not like the result of the democratic elections which brought Hamas to power.
USA, the EU and Norway make three demands of the Palestinian government: Recognise Israel's right to exist, renounce violence and respect previous agreements. These are reasonable demands - for both parties. The Norwegian government must make the same demands equally clear to Israel: Recognise the Palestinian's right to their own state, cease violent actions against Palestinian civilians and stand by the agreements entered into during the Oslo process. Without these demands being made of both parties, accusations of Western hypocrisy are difficult to counter.
There is good reason to be critcial of much that Hamas stands for, but to reject the party solely on an ideological basis is not the way forward. Among many other things, our organisation works actively for women and men to be able to participate in Palestinan politics and society on an equal basis. It is not a wise move to attempt to influence the Palestinians into accepting the State of Israel by means of isolation and the boycotting of the government they have elected. Rather than bring about a climate of negotiation or create openings for solutions, this "forced democratisation" and an intensified Israeli occupation has made the situation even more intolerable for the Palestinian people. We see desperation in the dangerous confrontations between Palestinian factions, where politically active youths from both wings clash in the battle for political hegemony. It is not difficult to recruit youths into the various militias. They are otherwise at a loose end and the frustration has to come out one way or another. Wasn't there something about idle hands being the root of all evil? Soon Ramadan, the month of fasting, will be over, and Gaza inhabitants fear worse confrontations than have been seen until now. The American consul in Jerusalem is reported to have said that President Abbas should now dissolve the government and call for fresh elections. This simply adds fuel to the already over-heated situation between Hamas and Fatah supporters. According to the Israeli press, the Israeli army has concrete plans to reoccupy Gaza, and one international observer describes the current situation as follows: "The international community seems paralysed. Everyone can see what is going on, but no-one seems willing to lift a finger".
Norwegian People's Aid, Church Aid and Refugee Aid speak with one voice in warning Norway against contributing to the isolation of the Palestinian government, since this will only make the siuation more crtitical and will weaken any chance of dialogue and negotiation. The three organisations suggested earlier that the Norwegian government cooperate with the new Palestinian government and give it the time and opportunity to establish a negotiating position with Israel. De facto recognition of the State of Israel was perfectly possible from Hamas' side before the EU and USA, with Norway in their wake, chose isolation as the preferred means of action.
There is little time, however, for being wise after the event. We think the Norwegian government still has the opportunity of playing a constructive role, in keeping with the desired role of independent arbitrator and arranger. It may well be that such an independent role is now needed more than ever. It is the politics of peace to bring an end to the blockade, to open up for dialogue with the Palestinian government and seek alternative solutions to the chaotic and dangerous situation which currently holds sway.
Finn-Erik Thoresen
Secretary General
David Bergan
Advisor