Debate, United Nations | Norway is obliged to do everything it can to prevent Israel’s genocide

The UN Genocide Convention was adopted in 1948, and entered into force in 1951. The definition of a genocide is as follows: “Extermination of people because they belong to a certain group”. The convention defines genocide as a crime under international law, and is about both preventing and punishing this crime. The Convention is part of international law.

Norway has ratified the convention, and is thus bound by it. The most famous example of genocide is of course Nazi Germany’s attempt to exterminate the Jews (and other special groups) during the Second World War. In recent times, Myanmar’s attempts to exterminate the Rohingya have also been defined under the Genocide Convention. Another example of an older nature is Turkey’s attempt to exterminate the Armenians. (1915-20).

The most relevant example, however, is Israel’s barbaric warfare against the Palestinians. Here it should be noted that Article 2 of the Convention defines genocide as any of the following acts committed with the intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnic, racial or religious group as such:

* to kill members of the group

* to cause serious physical or mental harm to members of the group

* knowingly subjecting the group to living conditions aimed at bringing about its destruction in whole or in part

* to impose measures aimed at preventing births within the group

* with the power to transfer children from the group to another group

Article 3 of the convention defines that the following acts shall be punishable on the basis of the convention:

– genocide

– conspiracy to commit genocide

– direct and incitement to commit genocide

– attempt to commit genocide

– complicity in genocide

As we know, South Africa, with the support of a number of other countries, has accused Israel of genocide. The International Court of Justice in The Hague has decided to open a case against Israel on the basis of the accusations. That in itself indicates that Israel is on thin ice. When you read articles 2 and 3 opposite, it is clear to me, and to many, that Israel is at least trying to commit genocide against the Palestinians. Israeli government members and generals have made several public statements that point directly in that direction.

What about Norway?

Norway is bound by the Genocide Convention. It also means an obligation to prevent genocide. Then the government cannot sit idly by for 2-3 years, while the court investigates the case, and let the genocide happen before our eyes! The Palestine Committee in Vestfold believes that Støre and Barth Eide must take the spoon in another hand, and join the many, many other countries in the world that are working to stop Israel’s horrific and merciless behavior against civilian Palestinians, children, women, the sick, health personnel , journalists and anyone of Palestinian descent. The genocide must be stopped before it is complete!

Of course, Norway has no military power to deploy to physically stop Israel. What Norway can do is go after Israel’s economy. It will be a language Israel understands. We can join everyone who demands an economic boycott of Israel. We ourselves can boycott all goods from Israel, terminate the existing trade agreement with the country, and make it prohibited to import goods from Israel or from occupied territory. We can withdraw the oil fund from all Israeli business. And we can ensure that weapons from Norway – even if they are produced under license in other countries – will not end up in Israel.

There will be more to do. It will be a language that both Israel and the world understand. What is not important is preserving the government’s prestige. The idea that we must “stick with Israel, so that Norway can have a role after the war, reflects Norway’s vanity and attachment to the “Oslo Agreement”. But now it is about life and death. Not about Norway’s possible role after further tens of thousands of Palestinians have been killed, displaced or starved to death by the Israeli war machine.