Norway called on the parties in the Middle East to resume negotiations and to honour their commitments by freezing settlement expansion and ending violence against civilians. Statement to the Security Council by Ms. Berit Enge, Minister Counsellor, on 27 July 2009.
Norway fully supports the current efforts to resume final status negotiations. A political framework for a two-state solution – based on the Road Map – is necessary in order to mobilize broad international support for Palestinian state building. Without such a political framework, we fear that international support may be eroded. Time has come to hold the parties to account, and to demand that they honour their Road Map commitments and other key obligations. Without tangible improvements on the ground, the work of the negotiators will be undermined and public support for the two-state solution will evaporate.
Norway strongly supports Egyptian efforts to heal the internal division among Palestinians. We commend Egypt for its patience and hard work in trying to find a political solution that will make it possible for a legitimate Palestinian government to be in full control of both Gaza and the West Bank.
The situation for the civilian population of the Gaza Strip is unacceptable. In January this year, the Security Council called on member states to support international efforts to alleviate the humanitarian and economic situation in Gaza, including through the Ad-hoc Liaison Committee. For life in Gaza to improve, the civilian population must be allowed freedom of movement. For the economy in Gaza to revive, import and export of goods must be restored. Norway urges the Government of Israel to reconsider its policy towards the civilian population in the Gaza Strip. At the same time Norway demands an end to the indiscriminate firing of rockets and mortars against Israeli civilians and the immediate release of Corporal Gilad Shalit, - now in his third year of captivity.
Mr President
In view of Norway’s role as chair of the Ad-hoc Liaison Committee – the international donor group supporting the Palestinian Authority – let me make a few observations focused on the connection between the political and the economic aspects of the peace process:
First, we must all act on our long-held understanding that economic progress in the Palestinian Territory is essential to bringing the Israeli-Palestinian conflict to an end. The institutions of the Palestinian Authority are the foundation of the future Palestinian state. Through timely budgetary support from major donors, Prime Minister Salam Fayyad has staved off the impending crisis for now. However, a considerable remaining gap must be filled to enable the Palestinian Authority to pay for salaries and utility bills throughout the year. Western and Arab donors alike should therefore honour their pledges from the donor conferences of Paris and Sharm el-Sheikh.
On the other hand – and this is my second point – the parties are ill advised to take the donors for granted. The international donor community’s support to the Palestinian Territory is in essence political, not humanitarian. Our aim is to facilitate an independent, democratic and viable Palestinian state, living side by side in peace and security with Israel. Without the political endgame in clear view, donor commitment at current levels can hardly be sustained.
Third, donor dependency is not a solution – while private value generation is. Let us not forget that ten years ago the Palestinian Authority ran a budget surplus. Israel must lift restrictions on commercial flows to, from and within all parts of the Palestinian Territory, including the Gaza Strip. The many road blocks that literally stand in the way of economic development, must be removed, in accordance with Israel’s international obligations.
Finally, Mr President, let me conclude by turning to the work of the AHLC. The June meeting in Oslo took stock of the grave economic situation for the Palestinian Authority. The meeting sought to identify measures that would underpin sustainable economic growth in the Palestinian Territory, including the Gaza Strip, and mobilise much needed budget support for the Palestinian Authority. The next AHLC meeting will take place in New York on the margins of the opening of the 64th General Assembly.
In between the meetings of the AHLC, we now have at our disposal an additional tool for follow-up and implementation on the ground. The reactivation of the Joint Liaison Committee (JLC), chaired by Norway, has strengthened three-party cooperation between Palestinians, Israel and international donors in a constructive and practical way. The JLC will report to the AHLC on the outcome of the ongoing discussions.
One of the objectives of the upcoming AHLC meeting in New York is to provide Prime Minister Fayyad with an opportunity to lay out his recently announced vision for establishing a Palestinian state within a two-year timeframe. Norway is pledging full support to Prime Minister Fayyad’s vision. We expect Prime Minister Fayyad to use the occasion in New York to explain to donors in some detail how they can help turn this vision into reality.
We, the donors, in close coordination with the Security Council and the Middle East Quartet, should be prepared to act on these proposals, mindful that the next couple of years may be our last chance in the foreseeable future to salvage the two-state solution.
Thank you, Mr President.