Espen Barth Eide believes that parts of the left are deliberately trying to create the impression in public opinion that the government is not doing anything for the Palestinians in Gaza. – It is dangerous, he says.
Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide (Ap) believes that Storting politicians in Rødt, SV and MDG are deliberately creating the impression that the government is not doing anything for the Palestinians. He fears it could lead to extreme reactions in a public opinion that is very engaged in the Gaza war. Photo: Olav Olsen
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Published: 13/02/2024 20:08 | Updated: 13/02/2024 21:27
The short version
- Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide believes that parts of the left are deliberately trying to create a false image that the government does not help the Palestinians.
The summary is created with the help of artificial intelligence (AI) and quality assured by Aftenposten’s journalists.
Short version is for subscribers only
Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide (Ap) is rarely upset, but now he is:
– I think parts of the left deliberately try to create the impression that the government does nothing for the Palestinians. It is very wrong. And I mean it’s dangerous.
Barth Eide believes that parts of the left are acting fraudulently in the debate about whether Norway should boycott Israel or not.
A broad majority in the Storting consisting of Ap, Sp, Høyre, Frp and KrF said last week no more almost 40 different boycott proposals.
Rødt, SV and MDG – and partly the Liberal Party – were behind the proposals.
The backdrop is Israel’s warfare in the Gaza Strip after the Hamas attacks on 7 October. Over 28,000 Palestinians have been killed, according to Palestinian health authorities. In addition, the humanitarian situation for over two million imprisoned Palestinians is described as critical by the UN.
The UN estimates that 25 percent of Gaza’s 2.2 million residents are suffering from catastrophic hunger due to a lack of emergency aid. Around one million of the inhabitants are children. Here, children queue to receive food rations in Rafah on 13 February. Photo: IBRAHEEM ABU MUSTAFA / Reuters / NTB
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While several hundred Palestine activists and the “Do more” campaign filled Eidsvoll’s place, the foreign minister got the smooth layer inside the parliament hall.
At the same time, Eide’s Instagram feed overflows with harassing messages related to the Gaza war, almost regardless of the topic he posts about. The same applies to Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre. When he recently shared a happy message about his grandchildren, it spilled over to many, including with accusations that he and the government are complicit in infanticide and genocide.
– So, what is happening in Gaza now is absolutely horrible. And I understand very well that people become very engaged, says Eide.
But he reacts to the fact that central politicians in Rødt, SV and partly MDG and Venstre, and against what he believes to be better informed, fire up this commitment by attacking the government for doing too little for the Palestinians.
This is what parts of the comment field look like under a picture Espen Barth Eide has posted on Instagram. Photo: Screenshot
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– And they do this while they vet that Norway is at the forefront internationally with measures, with demanding a ceasefire and pointing out violations of international law by both parties.
Eide emphasizes that there is broad agreement in the Storting on this policy, with the exception of the FRP.
– And then I agree that more should be done. As long as the war continues, not enough has been done. But: Norway does a lot. And then it will be very wrong for the same parties to attack us for doing nothing, just because we do not vote for their proposal to boycott Israel.
Fact
Eide’s list of Norwegian measures:
- Norway was among the very first to demand a ceasefire.
- Norway is now increasing support for the Palestinians, while other countries are cutting back.
- Norway still has contact with Hamas. It is crucial to ensure humanitarian access, to achieve a ceasefire and for the negotiations on the release of the hostages.
- Norway is in the final phase of ensuring that the Palestinian Authority receives significant tax and customs revenues that Israel has withheld.
- Norway leads the donor country group Palestine, which works to strengthen and reform the Palestinian Authority and Palestinian institutions.
- Norway is heavily involved in the Arab initiative for a comprehensive peace plan.
- Norway has expressed an expectation that Israel fully respects the International Court of Justice’s (ICJ) ruling on temporary injunctions. This means that Israel must ensure that the conduct of war is in line with international law.
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– Simply dangerous
He says this affects public opinion which is naturally very upset about the suffering in Gaza and creates the wrong impression.
– Communicating in such a way actually means a Trumpification of Norwegian politics.
He says he has long feared a polarization in Norway around the war in Gaza. But he thought the unfairness would come from the far right.
– And the far right has really tried, but has not succeeded. Instead, the polarization comes from the left. I mean it’s messy. This can actually be a bit dangerous here.
– What do you mean? Are you thinking about violent reactions?
– There is concern that there is such a risk here. For example, I am concerned about our Norwegian Jewish minority, which is experiencing increased violence.
– So you are actually calling for accountability because the involvement in public opinion is so strong?
– Yes, but at the same time it is important to say that I do not think anyone should become less committed to the cause of the Palestinians. But I expect parliamentarians and political parties to be orderly in how they talk about this, and not contribute to creating contradictions that do not exist.
– Boycott has zero effect
The Minister for Foreign Affairs says it is also important for him to emphasize that people does not must cease to be for boycott.
– If you think a boycott is good, then you have to say so. But to create the impression that the government is not doing anything, just because it does not support your boycott proposals – the I think I’m dangerous.
Eide says he will take a debate on boycott at any time.
– I have been wrong before. But here and now I am convinced that what we are doing is more correctly than a boycott. A Norwegian boycott of Israel will not change the Netanyahu government’s priorities. I think it will have 0.0 percent effect.
He says that sometimes it can be good to do something that has no effect – because it can look good. But then it must not undermine the other thing you do.
Around 70 percent of the buildings in the Gaza Strip have been destroyed in the war, according to the UN. Photo: DYLAN MARTINEZ / Reuters / NTB
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Eide is completely convinced that the only consequence a Norwegian boycott will have is to cut off the contact Norway needs with Israel, which is necessary to find a solution for the Palestinians. In addition to placing Norway completely on the sidelines.
– And why wouldn’t that be smart? asks the foreign minister, and answers himself:
– Because we now have credibility in all camps. As soon as there is a cease-fire – I hope it will come in ten minutes, but it could probably take more time – then it is important that Norway can play such a role. The parties want it: Palestine wants it. Israel wants it. The US wants it. The EU wants it. The neighboring Arab countries want it, he says, adding:
– And in addition to this, we lead the donor country group for Palestine. It is going to be very important when this war is over. And believe me: There is no queue to take over that role.
– If Norway is to make a difference for the Palestinians, such as contributing to more humanitarian aid coming to Gaza, that there should be a ceasefire and that Palestinian tax and customs revenues should benefit the Palestinians, we must also have a relationship with Israeli authorities.
– You are not afraid that Norway has played out on the sidelines from an Israeli point of view, with views critical of Israel, and therefore will not have a central role when the war is over?
– We try to calibrate this by being clear to all parties. It is also one of the reasons why we will not take the lead in a sanctions campaign against Israel. The Palestinian Authority has not asked us to do so either. That would damage many of the processes we are deeply involved in, and which I know that not least the Palestinians want us to be involved in in the future as well.
SV’s foreign policy spokesperson Ingrid Fiskaa together with SV leader Kirsti Bergstø. Photo: Stian Lysberg Solum / NTB
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SV: – Now he has to give up
Ingrid Fiskaa, SV’s foreign policy spokesperson, says that much of this has been said by Eide before.
– Now he has to give up. We have praised the government and Eide for what they have actually done. We have not criticized the government for not having done anything, but for not doing enough. Israel is not going to listen to stern words, we must put force and sanctions behind the demands.
She finds it strange to put harassing messages and potential extremism “in the context of our sober political rhetoric”.
– And our desire for more political action. What we say and want is only in accordance with the seriousness of the situation, says Fiskaa.
Fact
The war in Gaza
- Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, killing about 1,140 people.
- The attack led to Israel declaring full war against Hamas, which has ruled Gaza since 2007.
- Over 27,000 Palestinians have so far been killed in Israeli attacks.
- Most of Gaza’s 2.2 million inhabitants have been displaced from their homes.
- According to the UN, the material destruction is enormous. At least one in four inhabitants go hungry.
Source: NTB
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2024-02-13 19:08:59
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