📋 Tender Overview
Since 7 October last year, we have witnessed a drama of extraordinary dimensions in the Middle East. Israel is still in shock and grief after Hamas' horrific terrorist attack. In Gaza, more than 42,000 have been killed. There is a breakdown in all areas of society, says Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide about the report he gave to the Storting today.
The situation in the north of Gaza is particularly catastrophic. We see a very dangerous development in the West Bank. In Lebanon and northern Israel, the population is caught in the armed conflict between Israel and Hizballah. The month of October has already been the bloodiest month in Lebanon in a generation. In Iran, the citizens live in fear of new retaliatory attacks, says the foreign minister.
The Minister for Foreign Affairs asked to be given an account of the situation in the Middle East because it is a good Norwegian tradition to anchor foreign policy with the elected representatives.
The warfare has catastrophic consequences for everyone affected. Neighboring countries and the entire Middle East are negatively affected. Also in Europe and the rest of the world. Also here in Norway. We therefore have a vested interest in contributing, and we get involved because we are a responsible and supportive country. Every day we see that the UN and international law are under attack. Basic principles of protecting civilians and humanitarian actors as well as ensuring humanitarian access are violated every day. This has disastrous consequences for the Palestinians. It also undermines the rules-based world order built on the ruins of World War II. And it has a deadly contagion effect on other areas of conflict, says the foreign minister.
In the past year, the Middle East has changed. The dramatic development has made it necessary to rethink Norway's involvement. This resulted, among other things, in Norway recognizing Palestine as a state in May.
