BNC Statement

Open Letter to the Norwegian Government and Civil Society: Stop the Norwegian-Israeli Business and Research Seminar!

October 20, 2008

Palestine, October 19 2008


On November 3, 2008 a Norwegian-Israeli Business and Research Seminar will be held in Oslo, in an attempt to enhance bilateral cooperation in trade and research. On behalf of the Palestinian Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions National Committee (BNC):

 

  • We ask the co-organizers of the event – the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Trade and Industry, Innovation Norway and the Research Council of Norway – to re-evaluate the initiative and cancel the event.

     

Palestine, October 19 2008


On November 3, 2008 a Norwegian-Israeli Business and Research Seminar will be held in Oslo, in an attempt to enhance bilateral cooperation in trade and research. On behalf of the Palestinian Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions National Committee (BNC):

 

  • We ask the co-organizers of the event – the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Trade and Industry, Innovation Norway and the Research Council of Norway – to re-evaluate the initiative and cancel the event.

     

  • We call upon Norwegian civil society organizations to mobilize and take action against the strengthening of ties between these two parties and to stop this conference from taking place.

Bilateral cooperation and agreements are part of Israel’s strategy aimed at improving relations with the international community, in particular with Western countries, in order to legitimize its ongoing systematic racial discrimination, occupation and displacement of the Palestinian people and escape its obligations under international law. By giving the deceptive impression of normalcy, this strategy aims to guarantee business as usual goes on and public criticism Israel is stymied.

Israel has recently pursued this strategy with countries such as Brazil, India, Canada, China and several others in Europe. These bilateral ties provide Israel with greater leverage over the Palestinian people, as they effectively demonstrate that it's regime of apartheid, colonialism and occupation is condoned by countries around the world.


The key issues upon which the seminar will focus do not only raise ethical questions, but expose Norway to possible breaches of its own national security interests and international law:

 

Information and communications technology (including homeland security):Companies in this sector almost inevitably cooperate with the Israeli military and the intelligence sector. Many Israeli military and “security” systems are openly field tested on Palestinians under occupation. In the USA, several Israeli telecommunication companies have been investigated by the FBI on suspicion of breaches of national security.

Environmental technology (water treatment and renewable energy): Israel’s water policies are aimed at perpetuating its illegal control over Palestinian resources. Israel steals over 80% of all water available in the region, while most of the water sources lie within the occupied West Bank. Israel’s approach to “water treatment”, therefore, cannot be emulated or condoned by the international community.

Medicine: While Israel promotes its pharmaceutical industry as a “life saving” contribution to the world, it continues to kill and maim Palestinians almost daily. Even today,
Israel’s medical association fails to criticize the participation of Israeli doctors in the torture of Palestinian prisoners. The Israeli health establishment continues shamelessly to discriminate against Israel’s indigenous, “non-Jewish” citizens, even in cancer and environmental hazards research.

Tourism:Israeli tourism industry exploits and/or misrepresents Palestinian heritage and culture. It is part of the Israeli attempt to negate the indigenous Palestinian presence and roots in their homeland.

We oppose these economic talks because Israel’s business community and its economic growth are inextricably linked with the human rights violations and crimes committed by Israel. Israel’s economy is dependent upon the exploitation of the resources of the Palestinian people and, indeed, benefits greatly from system of apartheid, colonialism and occupation it has imposed on the Palestinian people for 60 years. We therefore condemn any attempts to legitimize this economy of oppression.

Norway has earned itself a reputation of respect for human rights and international law. We therefore expect Norway to apply these standards to the Palestinian people and to refrain from the use of double standards. Considering Israel’s history of persistent and systematic violations of international humanitarian and human rights law through racist and discriminatory institutions, laws and policies, we condemn any political or economic rapprochement between Norway and Israel.

As representatives of Palestinian civil society, we reiterate our call for boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) against Israel issued on July 2005 by over 170 Palestinian organizations, parties, trade unions and networks. We express our appreciation of the work of many committed activists in Norway, who have built support for Palestinian rights.

We urge Norwegian civil society to mobilize and pressure their government to cancel this seminar, which poses a threat to the progress made, and to abstain from cooperation with the state of Israel, until it:

1. Ends its occupation and colonization of all Arab lands and dismantles the Wall;

2. Recognizes the fundamental rights of the Arab-Palestinian citizens of Israel to full equality; and

3. Respects, protects and promotes the rights of Palestinian refugees to return to their homes and properties and receive compensation, as stipulated in UN resolution 194.

 

Steering Committee of the Palestinian Boycott, Divest and Sanctions National Committee (BNC)

October 20, 2008
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