Topic: The Situation in Israel/Palestine
Country: Norway
Delegate Name: Evelyn Bruinsma
School: Forest Hills Eastern High School
Topic page: background guide and all position papers All Norway position papers GLIMUN 2017 committees
The Israeli-Palestinian conflict is an ongoing struggle for control of the land on which both territories reside. Israel is recognized as a country, whereas Palestine is not. In 1948, the United Nations passed resolution 181, which called for the partition of Palestine into Arab and Jewish states. The Arabs opposed this action, as they did not want to share their homeland with the European Jews. As Israel gained more power and land, the Palestinians were forced out of their homes and prohibited from returning. Eventually, a war broke out, and the Palestine lost most of their land. The UN attempted to end the conflict with resolution 141, which called on the UN Conciliation Commission to facilitate tensions between Israel and the Arab states. However, most of the articles were left unfulfilled due to a disagreement in policies by Israel and Palestine. This created a refugee crisis, leaving many people stateless. The Palestinian borders are controlled by the oppressive Israeli forces; many citizens are imprisoned and severely mistreated by these military forces. In July of 2017, there was an attack on the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem, which resulted in five casualties and the installation of metal detectors and security cameras by the Israeli government. The Palestinians opposed the actions taken by the Israeli government and called for the removal of the security enhancements, to which the government obliged. This shows the extent to which the tensions have risen and why this issue must be resolved.
The Kingdom of Norway is advocating for Palestine to be recognized as a state and for Palestinians to have rights and citizenship of Palestine. Earlier this year, the Norwegian Confederation of Trade Unions voted in favor of an economic, cultural, and academic boycott of Israel over its treatment of the Palestinians. This newly placed boycott serves to share the Norwegian disappointment of the Israeli treatment of the Palestinians. Israeli Ambassador to Norway, Raphael Schutz, said, “accepting the claim of return for millions of Palestinian refugees and their descendants, not to the Palestinian state but to Israel, means, in reality, the dissolution of the Jewish state.” More than 400,000 Israelis now live in the occupied West Bank and in the Golan Heights. The Norwegian Government considers the Israeli settlements on occupied territory to be a violation of international law. This position is supported by a number of United Nations Security Council resolutions, including declarations by the International Court of Justice and resolutions 465 and 471, both signed by Norway. These resolutions express concern for the Israeli occupation of the Arab territories.
The Kingdom of Norway urges countries to take measures to combat Israel and their unjust treatment of the Palestinian people. We encourage peaceful attempts to counter this issue, as any forced pressure could cause the Israeli Government to retaliate, either against the rest of the world or against the very people we are trying to help. Our nation suggests that countries follow in the footsteps of Norway and impose and a boycott and/or an embargo against Israel to force them to end the occupation of Palestine. We recommend that nations draft a resolution similar to that of resolution 242, which called on Israel to relinquish the territories acquired during its war with Syria and Egypt and emphasized the necessity of peace, sovereignty, and recognized borders of all states within its boundaries. The most important step for Palestinians to gain their freedom, however, is for Palestine to be recognized as a state by the United Nations, as well as the rest of the world. Only once they are recognized can they gain their independence and citizenship.
