SPEAKER IN THE SECURITY COUNCIL: Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide. Photo: UN delegation
The Foreign Minister wants peace in Gaza, and as soon as possible. Now Espen Barth Eide, with help from the rest of the world, wants to put pressure on Israel to get a two-state solution in place.
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Late on Tuesday, the Norwegian foreign minister, together with a number of other ministers from around the world, participated in a meeting of the UN Security Council.
The topic during the meeting was the war in Gaza between Hamas and Israel.
Before the meeting in New York, where Eide himself will speak, he spoke to VG on the phone.
The message to the Norwegian foreign minister before the meeting was not to be misunderstood:
– I will emphasize that we must achieve a lasting ceasefire, a sharp escalation of humanitarian aid and a two-state solutiontwo-state solutionThe two-state solution is a term for a proposed solution to the Palestine issue, which entails the establishment of two independent states – one Jewish (Israel) and one Arab (Palestine).which benefits both Palestine and Israel in the long run.
TWO-STATE SOLUTION: This is Espen Barth Eide’s clear call, before he is to address the UN Security Council on Tuesday. Photo: UN delegation
– What needs to be in place for a two-state solution to be possible?
– It’s a big puzzle with many pieces that need to fit into place. In the short term, a ceasefire must be put in place and humanitarian aid must enter Gaza – which means the war and the killing must end. In the longer term, a two-state solution must imply that there are Palestinian self-governing authoritiesPalestinian self-governing authoritiesSelf-governing authorities are local or regional authorities that have the power to govern themselves within a country. who govern Palestine, and not Hamas, Eide emphasizes to VG.
The foreign minister refers to the situation in Gaza as “catastrophic”, and earlier this year told VG that the situation for Palestinians in Gaza is like “hell on earth”.
Believes Palestine must be governed without Hamas
Israel, led by President Benjamin Netanyahu, has repeatedly rejected a two-state solution in the Middle East.
Netanyahu said as recently as last week that he had told the US that he was opposed to a Palestinian state after the Gaza war and would continue the war until Israel achieves a “decisive victory over Hamas”.
– Israel needs security control over all areas west of Jordan, Netanyahu said.
MUST PAY FOR BOTH PARTIES: The Norwegian foreign minister believes that a two-state solution must benefit both Palestinians and Israelis. Photo: Tore Kristiansen / VG
UN Secretary-General António Guterres believes this is unacceptable.
– The entire population of Gaza is experiencing destruction on a scale and pace unparalleled in recent history. Nothing can justify collective punishment of the Palestinian people, Guterres said in a meeting of the UN Security Council on Tuesday.
Eide himself believes that the key is to let Palestinian self-governing authorities govern a future Palestine – where Gaza and the West Bank are united in one nation.
At the same time, there must be an understanding from Palestine and Israel about a two-state solution, which can normalize relations between the nations in the long term, believes the foreign minister.
Want to clarify negotiations
– Palestinian self-governing authorities must be strengthened, and Israel must realize that a two-state solution benefits all parties. Hamas and other militant groups must be weakened. Israel should participate in this, because it creates peace in the entire region, said Eide.
– Hamas started this war with its terrorist attack on October 7, what can they do to stop this war and ensure peace?
– Hamas can release the 132 hostages they have in the tunnels. It had been a clear sign towards Israel and the fates of the hostages held by Hamas. A truce must apply to both parties. At the same time, the Palestinians must find a solution to govern Palestine, without Hamas at the helm.
– How does Norway work to express the desire for a two-state solution towards Israel?
– The negotiations must start at a political level, and the ground battles must end. We are clear that Israel had the right to defend itself after the terrorist attack on 7 October, but that use of force must conform to international law international law International law is rules and agreements that countries have agreed upon and that govern how countries must behave towards each other. . Israel has gone far too far, so now they must sit down at the negotiating table and work with Palestine and other parts of the world for a lasting peace.
Info
Number of dead and injured in Gaza
- At least 25,490 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli attacks against the Gaza Strip since October 7, according to Gaza’s Ministry of Health.
- In addition, the number of injured is now up to 63,354, they further report.
- 200 Israeli soldiers have been killed in the Gaza Strip since the Israeli military started the ground operation at the end of October, a military spokesman told the AFP news agency.
- Around 1,200 Israeli soldiers are injured, according to the IDF.
Source: NTB
Sea view
Former diplomat: – The war must end
– The foreign minister is bringing important messages to the field. The Security Council is a central platform and pulpit for such a message. At the same time, it is important to take into account that Prime Minister Netanyahu has opposed a separate Palestinian state.
This is what Kåre Reidar Aas, a former Norwegian diplomat, who has also been political director in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs told VG about the situation. Aas has also been Norway’s ambassador to the USA and Israel, among others.
– In this situation, it is important to maintain strong international pressure to move Israel in the right direction. Without a two-state solution, lasting peace will not be possible.
Aas believes that a situation must be reached where the war ends, and that the military battles and weapons are laid down.
CAUTIOUS OPTIMIST: The former diplomat and ambassador believes that a political process is needed to create peace, and not a prolonged war. Photo: Jostein Matre / VG
– The war that started with the horrific attack on Israel on October 7 and the ongoing Israeli military operations in Gaza with inhumane suffering for the Palestinian civilian population will hopefully create momentum to push for a two-state solution. There is hope, even if the challenges of starting a political negotiation process are significant.
Aas believes that Israel and the Palestinians cannot do this alone, and therefore praises Eide for his clear message.
– The first thing that must happen is that the war and human suffering come to an end. After that, there is long and arduous work in the political process, but with several countries putting pressure on both Israel and Hamas, this conflict can be resolved. The work to build stability throughout the Middle East and where the two-state solution is part of this work is the way to go, believes Aas.
Published:
Published: 24.01.24 at 00:16
Updated: 24.01.24 at 03:22
2024-01-23 23:16:42
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