Statement from the Saami Council: A free Palestine
In the shadow of a protracted and devastating conflict between Israel and Palestine, the Saami Council solemnly recognizes the acute and tragic human toll that this struggle has inflicted. Foremost in our concerns are the heartbreaking losses of civilian lives including thousands of innocent children. The horrendous attacks by Hamas on hundreds of Israelian civilians has been followed by a massive disproportional military response by Israel in Gaza causing, as of writing, over 14 000 civilian Palestinian lives, including over 10 000 women and children.
The Saami Council, through this message, ardently advocates for a world where peaceful coexistence is the norm, grounded in a mutual respect and a shared commitment to the principles enshrined in the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other key instruments of international law.
We emphasize that lasting peace and stability in the region can only be achieved through earnest and equitable negotiations, addressing the fundamental issues at the heart of the conflict. The Saami Council demands that Israel ends its occupation of the West Bank and dismantles its settlement policy, which involves an unlawful annexation of occupied territories.
We call on all states and international bodies to pursue an international agenda that contributes to:
Israel ending its occupation of the West Bank and the annexation of occupied territories.
The implementation of the UN Security Council Resolution 242 and a two-state solution based on 1967 borders.
An international boycott of trade and investments from the occupied territories.
The lifting of the blockade on Gaza.
UN investigation of allegations of war crimes and violations of international law.
This statement seeks not only to frame the broader political dialogue but to urgently call attention to the suffering of innocent lives, underscoring the imperative to uphold and protect the rights of indigenous peoples, particularly the Bedouins, who are often overlooked in these conflicts. As we envisage a future marked by a two-state solution, with new borders potentially dissecting these ancestral lands, it is paramount that the inherent rights and dignities of these communities are safeguarded and respected.
A two-state solution is necessary
The Saami Council supports a two-state solution based on the 1967 borders and UN Security Council Resolution 242. Only a two-state solution can resolve the conflict and guarantee both Palestinians' and Israelis' legitimate claims to national self-determination and security. This requires mutual recognition and a willingness for peaceful coexistence. Israel's policy is making such a solution increasingly impossible. Over half a million settlers now live in the occupied West Bank. Given Israel's ongoing expansion policy since the Oslo Accords, it's hard to imagine this being reversed without significant international pressure.
Stop the Occupation Economy
The occupation economy has become an integrated part of Israel's economy. Israel must separate its own economy from the occupation economy. The import of goods from Israeli settlements and industrial zones on the West Bank should be banned. We call on an international boycott of such goods.
The Gaza Strip
The recent war is part of a pattern rooted in Israel's occupation and isolation of the Gaza Strip. Israel has the right to self-defense but must adhere to international law and avoid civilian casualties. As the occupying power and the stronger party, Israel also has a special responsibility in the conflict. The Israeli military actions earlier this year led to a humanitarian disaster with a critical shortage of water, food, and medicine. The Saami Council strongly condemns the aggression against innocent civilians. Most of the victims were innocent Palestinian civilians who could not escape the hostilities in a closed Gaza.
The UN must conduct a thorough investigation of all allegations of war crimes and violations of international law during the war in the Gaza Strip. It is an important principle that those who commit war crimes should be held accountable.
Israel's ongoing blockade of Gaza, with strict import and export restrictions, has caused great suffering for the population and hindered economic development. The Saami Council demands that the blockade of Gaza be lifted. Gaza's borders must be opened for humanitarian aid, people, and trade.