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| Title: | All about Scandinavia |
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| Moderator: | TLE::SAVAGE |
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| Created: | Wed Dec 11 1985 |
| Last Modified: | Tue Jun 03 1997 |
| Last Successful Update: | Fri Jun 06 1997 |
| Number of topics: | 603 |
| Total number of notes: | 4325 |
552.0. "Norway's role in the secret Israeli-PLO deal" by TLE::SAVAGE () Tue Sep 07 1993 15:44
From: [email protected] (JONATHAN FERZIGER)
Newsgroups: clari.news.gov.international,clari.news.issues.conflict,
clari.news.group,clari.news.europe,clari.news.group.jews
Subject: Norwegian woods were site for secret Israeli-PLO deal
Date: Sun, 5 Sep 93 0:31:10 EDT
JERUSALEM (UPI) -- Over low-key breakfasts, late-night bull sessions
and leisurely walks in the Norwegian woods, diplomats from Israel and
the Palestine Liberation Organization laid the groundwork for the deal
that may change the Middle East political landscape forever.
The two teams met secretly 14 times and stayed overnight together in
a secluded mansion south of Oslo. In the course of seven months, they
hammered out the terms for an agreement on Palestinian self-rule in the
West Bank and Gaza Strip, which Israel captured 26 years ago and has
ruled by military occupation since.
A key compromise worked out in Norway was the "Gaza-Jericho First"
plan that has propelled the rest of the autonomy plan forward.
Dispensing with decades of mistrust and hostile rhetoric, the Arab
and Jewish negotiators paved the way for mutual recognition between
Israel and the PLO, which their leaders now hope to ratify.
Details of the back-channel talks -- so secret that Eliakim
Rubinstein, Israel's chief negotiator with the Palestinians at the
formal peace talks in Washington, was kept out of the loop -- emerged in
interviews United Press International conducted with government sources
involved with the Norwegian meetings, and Israeli newspaper accounts.
"It started as an experiment that people figured was destined to
fail, but thought, 'Why not try it anyway?"' an Israeli diplomat said.
"Then it picked up its own momentum when both sides got to know each
other in Norway."
It was a Norwegian academic, Terje Rod Larsen, who first approached
both sides more than a year ago about cooperating in a study on
Palestinan living conditions in the occupied territories. Larsen,
director of the Norwegian Institute for Applied Science, recruited
Deputy Foreign Minister Yossi Beilin through a mutual friend, Yair
Hirschfeld, a professor of Middle East studies at Haifa University, who
later became part of the secret team.
Other key Norwegian players were Foreign Minister Johan Jorgen Holst
-- whose unexplained absence two weeks ago from King Harold's 25th
wedding anniversary celebration caused a stir until the reason was
revealed -- and Jan Egeland, Norway's state secretary for foreign
affairs.
After a few months of research as both Arab and Israeli sides got to
know each other, the potential for more ambitious goals became apparent.
Both PLO Chairman Yasser Arafat and the Israeli Foreign Ministry gave
the green light for the talks to pursue the remote possibility of mutual
recognition.
By that time, in May, Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres was
steering the secret contacts and had sent his ministry's director-
general, Uri Savir, to Norway at the head of a six-member team to assess
their progress. Arafat, meanwhile, sent Ahmed Krai, the senior PLO
official known as Abu Allah, to lead the cover negotiatign group.
Several of the initial encounters took place at Holst's own home in
Oslo, but as the momentum developed, the Norwegians decided to shift the
locale to a century-old mansion in a small town south of the capital.
Secluded in the lush country setting, the Israelis and the Palestinians
worked out the details of arrangements for early self-rule in the
overcrowded Gaza refugee camps and the desert town of Jericho.
Living together in the house helped dispel the mutual distrust that
each side harbored, Larsen told the Israeli newspaper Yediot Ahronoth.
The negotiators shared breakfast, lunch and dinner. They would wander
around the surrounding woods and talk late into the night over drinks.
Fearful of word leaking out, Norwegian security sealed off the area
around the mansion. Neighbors curious about why lights were on all night
were told that two professors were writing a book.
One of the key ingredients in keeping the meetings secret in Israel
was the fact that Peres was running the show.
The rivalry between the foreign minister and Prime Minister Yitzhak
Rabin is legendary, and most Israelis believed Rabin's assurances that
he was keeping firm personal control over the key bilateral peace talks
in Washington. Peres, who had been prime minister himself in the mid-
1980s, had to content himself with responsibility over the less-
glamorous multilateral talks.
But Peres, who seemed to chafe in public at his lesser role, was
cultivating the backdoor approach. Last week, Rabin said his longtime
political foe had kept him informed every step of the way. Rubinstein,
on the other hand, has asked to resign from his job at the head of the
official peace delegation.
Peres also said that the United States was told about the secret
meetings, although not all the details. Before revealing the contacts
with the PLO publicly, Peres and Holst traveled to California to brief
U.S. Secretary of State Warren Christopher about the diplomatic
breakthrough.
Days later the proposed "Gaza-Jericho First" agreement was revealed
to the Israeli public, whose reaction has been lukewarm. The prospect of
reconciling with the PLO, long regarded as a terrorist organization
responsible for the killing of hundreds of Israelis, has been hard to
swallow, although most people thought it was inevitable.
Right-wing opposition groups have vowed to engage in civil
disobedience on a massive scale, and some extremist settlers have
threatened armed insurrection. Arafat has been trying to sell the deal
among Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza, but radical Muslim groups
like Hamas, who reject any agreement with Israel, are promising a
bloodbath.
For the moment, neither the autonomy deal nor the mutual recognition
treaty has been signed. Israelis and Palestinians are trying to put the
finishing touches on the landmark agreement this week, meeting in
Washington, Norway, and most probably in some other unlikely part of the
globe where secret contacts are still taking place.
| T.R | Title | User | Personal
Name | Date | Lines |
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| 552.1 | Kudos from Clinton | TLE::SAVAGE | | Tue Sep 14 1993 14:26 | 19 |
| From: [email protected] (UPI)
Newsgroups: clari.news.gov.international,clari.news.issues.conflict,
clari.news.europe
Subject: Clinton lauds Norway's role
Date: Mon, 13 Sep 93 10:45:19 PDT
WASHINGTON (UPI) -- President Clinton singled out Norway for praise
Monday, citing the Nordic country's role in providing a place where
diplomats for Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization could
negotiate in secret.
The two teams met secretly 14 times and stayed overnight together in
a secluded mansion south of Oslo. During a seven-month period they
hammered out terms for an agreement on Palestinian self-rule in the West
Bank and Gaza Strip, which Israel captured 26 years ago and has ruled by
military occupation since.
"Let us salute also today the government of Norway for its
remarkable role in nurturing this agreement," he said to loud applause.
It was a Norwegian academic, Terje Rod Larsen, who first approached
both sides more than a year ago, leading to the talks.
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| 552.2 | Credibility | TLE::SAVAGE | | Wed Sep 15 1993 13:56 | 42 |
| From: [email protected] (Mechthild Stoer)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.nordic
Subject: Re: Norway's role in Mideast Peace Accord
Date: 14 Sep 1993 15:50:21 GMT
Organization: Konrad Zuse-Zentrum fuer Informationstechnik Berlin
Andrew asks about the role Norway played in the Mideast Peace Accord.
Here's my information (taken from the Polish newspaper "Tygodnik
Powszechny"):
First, Norway is small, has no colonialistic past in Arabic countries,
is not in the EC, and has had good contacts with both sides. For
instance, prime minister Brundtland has since long had contact with the
Israelian labour party.
Then, there is a Norwegian labour union institution called FAFO
operating in the Gaza region. FAFO was investigating the living
conditions of Palestinians and quickly gained credibility, such that it
became entrusted with the mediating role by both sides.
At the beginning, Thorvald Stoltenberg took part in the negotiations,
but then he became engaged as mediator in Bosnia (possibly because he
has done such a good job in Palestinia). He was replaced in the
Palestinian-Israelian talks by another Norwegian diplomat -- Jorgen
Holst. The wives of both are sisters. One of them -- Marianne Heiberg
-- is the leading expert at FAFO. One of her closest assistants is
again a researcher married with some leader of the department, over
which Holst is residing. Last not least, the four-year-old son of the
Holst family was the favourite of both the family Arafat as of the
Israelian delegation.
This intimate-diplomatic combination was very effective. The two
delegations met in the homes of the people named above, (by the
fireside, walking in the woods...). This of course had some influence
on the atmosphere of the talks.
Somehow this story is too good to be true...
Mechthild Stoer
[email protected]
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| 552.3 | Well-deserved recognition as world peacemakers | TLE::SAVAGE | | Wed Oct 27 1993 10:47 | 48 |
| From: [email protected] (UPI)
Newsgroups: clari.news.interest.people,clari.news.europe,
clari.news.issues.conflict
Subject: Norway recognized for peace efforts
Date: Tue, 26 Oct 93 18:17:42 PDT
ATLANTA, Georgia (UPI) -- Former President Jimmy Carter and Dominique
de Menil announced Tuesday that The Carter-Menil Human Rights Foundation
will present $100,000 to honor the Norwegian people for their
contributions to world peace.
The money will be awarded to the Institute for Applied Social
Sciences to advance its future work for peace.
Also, de Menil will present to Norway a sculpture titled "Marriage"
by the late American artist Tony Smith. The monetary award and the
dedication of the sculpture are scheduled for spring 1994 in Oslo,
Norway.
"The Norwegians have a history of global leadership as peacemakers,"
Carter said. "The work of Norwegian facilitators to open channels of
communication between the Palestinians and Israelis was a critical step
toward eventual resolution of one of the most complicated and
longstanding conflicts in human history."
Each year since 1986, The Carter-Menil Human Rights Foundation has
awarded a human rights prize to individuals or organizations. The
special award next year will be made in place of the 1993 Carter-Menil
Human Rights Prize.
The foundation was established in 1986 by Carter and de Menil,
founder and president of The Rothko Chapel in Houston, to promote the
protection of human rights throughout the world.
Carter noted the Norwegians hosted secret negotiating sessions
between Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization that led to the
signing of the historic peace agreement on Sept. 13.
He said Norwegians also served as intermediaries and catalysts in the
talks.
Carter said from a population of 4.2 million people, 40,000
Norwegians have participated in United Nations peacekeeping operations
in the Middle East, Asia, Africa, Central America and the former
Yugoslavia.
He also noted the Norwegians' history of support for and leadership
in the United Nations, dating back to the election of the first UN
secretary-general, Trygve Lie, and continuing with national per capita
contributions to the United Nations higher than any other country.
Carter also noted Norway leads the world in development aid as a
percentage of gross national product at 1.14 percent.
"In all difficult enterprises there are hours of doubt and distress,
" said de Menil. "At such times, the help of true friends is
invaluable. The members of the Oslo team have proven to be such friends
to the Israeli and Palestinian negotiators. To them the world is
indebted."
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| 552.4 | Undeterred, Norway to decorate Xmas tree | TLE::SAVAGE | | Wed Dec 15 1993 11:20 | 75 |
| From: [email protected] (DEBORAH HORAN)
Newsgroups: clari.news.religion,clari.news.features,
clari.news.gov.international,clari.news.lifestyle,
clari.news.issues.family,clari.news.europe
Subject: Christmas comes to Bethlehem despite tree Grinch
Date: Tue, 14 Dec 93 10:48:30 PST
UPI News Feature
BETHLEHEM (UPI) -- With their prayers for self-rule seemingly
answered, Palestinian Christians were looking forward to a particularly
festive Christmas this year.
Then came the great Christmas tree debacle.
Bethlehem had been expecting a giant Christmas tree as a gift from
Norway, host of the historic secret meetings between Israel and the
Palestine Liberation Organization that brought tidings of peace to the
Middle East.
The tree was to stand in Manger Square, where thousands of pilgrims
and tourists are expected to flock.
But Israel nixed the idea, citing a law banning the importation of
pine trees as an agricultural hazard.
The decision evoked howls of protest and outrage from residents of
Bethlehem, the birthplace of Jesus Christ.
"This is an insult for us and for our Christmas," said Elias Freij,
the 73-year-old mayor of Bethlehem and Christian elder statesman.
"They (Israeli officials) said in an arrogant way that if we need a
Christmas tree, they can tell us where to buy it," Freij said. "If
they don't want a tree from Norway to come, I want the whole world to
know Israel's attitude toward Christmas."
Israeli law bars the importation of all pine trees because they may
carry diseases that could kill other trees in the region's fragile
ecosystem.
"If one tree brings a disease that can be passed to other trees, it
is very dangerous," said Ministry of Agriculture spokesman Ronny
Hassid. "We suggested to buy a tree from Israel."
Palestinian Christians, who make up about 3 percent of the population
of the West Bank and 42 percent of Bethlehem, usually purchase Christmas
trees from Israel. But this year, a tree from Israel would not have the
same significance as one from Norway, Freij said.
When the peace deal was clinched three months ago with a handshake
between Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and PLO Chairman Yasser
Arafat, Palestinian Christians in Bethlehem started planning a festive
Christmas, the kind they celebrated before the intifada, or uprising,
began just before Christmas 1987.
While the Gaza Strip and West Bank town of Jericho were scheduled to
become autonomous first, there is no telling when self-rule might reach
Bethlehem.
Throughout the intifada, midnight mass was observed in the Church of
the Nativity. But the traditional multitude of colorful lights and
Christmas trees has been missing. The joy usually associated with
Christmas was difficult to maintain while Israeli soldiers policed the
town and body-searched virtually every visitor.
This year, Bethlehem plans to usher in the holiday on Dec. 24,
Christmas Eve, with eight international choirs singing familiar carols
of peace on Earth and good will toward men. Midnight mass will be
broadcast via satellite to countries around the world. Palestinian Boy
Scouts will parade through the streets. Lights and music will once again
brighten the streets.
The celebrations will continue until Jan. 17, the day Armenians
celebrate Christmas. Festivities will also be held on Jan. 6, the date
Eastern Orthodox Christians -- including Syrian, Greek and Eyptians
Coptic Christians -- believe the Messiah was born.
Despite the absence of a Norwegian Santa Claus bringing a 46-foot
(14-meter)tree, Palestinians say they were determined not to let the
Grinch steal Christmas again.
"Christmas means peace on Earth and good will toward all people,"
Freij said. "We will have choirs and celebrations this year and we will
decorate another tree."
But the substitute -- a withered conifer that stands across from the
Church of the Nativity year-round -- happens to be on the grounds of
Israeli police headquarters, which is fenced in behind a drab army
lookout post.
Norway is undeterred. Instead of sending a Christmas tree, it will
donate Christmas lights and tree ornaments and will send a decorator to
trim the tree right.
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| 552.5 | Foreign Minister Johan Holst dies | TLE::SAVAGE | | Thu Jan 13 1994 09:29 | 13 |
| From: [email protected] (UPI)
Newsgroups: clari.news.interest.people,clari.news.europe,biz.clarinet.sample
Subject: Israel saddened by Holst death
Date: Thu, 13 Jan 94 3:22:13 PST
JERUSALEM (UPI) -- Israel has expressed its sorrow over the death of
Norwegian Foreign Minister Johan Joergen Holst, who helped broker its
September peace agreement with the PLO. Deputy foreign minister Yossi
Beilin praised Holst's efforts and said peacemaking with the
Palestinians would continue.
[Moderator's note: Holst died in his sleep of an apparent second
stroke. He leaves a wife and four-year old child.]
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