Stay informed with free updates
Just register Israeli-Palestinian conflict myFT Digest – delivered straight to your inbox.
When the Oslo Accords were signed, the author was State Secretary at the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.He is currently Secretary General of the Norwegian Refugee Council
Nearly thirty years ago, as a young Norwegian diplomat, I sat on the White House lawn and watched U.S. President Bill Clinton host two sworn enemies who had pledged to fight for a peaceful future for both peoples. For eight months, my life and that of a small team were spent organizing 14 rounds of negotiations in Norway’s clandestine diplomatic clandestine pipeline. Despite the difficulties, it marked the first mutual recognition between Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization and the first principled agreement on how to achieve peace.
The signing of the Oslo Accords was a rare moment of optimism in a long and bitter conflict. The diplomats around me gasped as Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin shook hands with PLO Chairman Yasser Arafat. We all stood up and applauded. Thirty years on, every time I visit the still-occupied Palestinian territories I ask how the situation for civilians could get worse. At the same time, Israel seeks to normalize relations with other countries in the Middle East, notably the so-called Abraham Accords signed with the United Arab Emirates in September 2020.
Today, an endless cycle of despair, humiliation and violence is daily life for many Palestinians. We are at a stage where even Israeli generals denounce mafia-style settler violence as “terrorism,” while Israeli ministers openly incite violence against Palestinians. In 1993, we had visionary and courageous leadership on both sides. Now, Palestinian leaders are divided and out of touch with their people. Extremist elements within the Israeli cabinet promote illegal settlement expansion and annexation of occupied territory.
At that time, there were 280,000 settlers in the settlement. Today, their numbers exceed 700,000, hampering peace and making it increasingly difficult for a future Palestinian state to survive. Land grabbing is accelerating: In recent months, I have witnessed how state-sponsored settler violence is driving Palestinian community after Palestinian community from their homes. The international diplomatic response was surprisingly ineffective. While the war and occupation in Ukraine have rightfully brought about a strong collaborative response, an older occupation is flourishing before our eyes.
Critics of the Oslo Accords have highlighted glaring gaps in the Declaration of Principles and our naive optimism. We did underestimate the enemies of peace on both sides, and during the initial honeymoon period we lost key opportunities around the final status issue. But beyond imperfect initial agreements and mutual recognition, there is the despair of endless conflict, occupation and terror. However, that all came to an end when the agreed timetable for a final peace deal was shattered. Both parties, as well as the international community, must shoulder their responsibilities.
We cannot wait 30 years for another more successful breakthrough. In a conflict with little consensus, the stark fact is that the asymmetry between the two sides, with one dominating the other, prevents progress in direct bilateral negotiations. Only the United States has the influence and ability to provide the guarantees both sides need.
time is limited. Israel’s current government has put forward reckless plans to build 13,000 new settlements by 2023, nearly three times the number from last year. It annexed the occupied West Bank without announcement, with the clear intention of making it permanent. This year has been the deadliest for Palestinians in the West Bank since 2005. The overcrowded Gaza Strip is under an endless siege, triggering generations of suffering. The alternative to strong mediation is deepening conflict and violence, which would plunge Palestinians and Israelis into greater regional instability.
The United States can join forces with Europe, Arab states, and the United Nations to demand protection of Palestinian human rights and an end to the brutal occupation. It could provide Israel with the security it needs. The parties agreed to submit unresolved disputes to international arbitration in Oslo. Now, this is more necessary than ever. Thirty years ago, our credo was that a “just, lasting and comprehensive peace settlement” would bring about “peaceful coexistence, mutual dignity and security”. This is still achievable. It’s not too late.
Svlook
