Nidal Hamad - Oslo
15 December 2005
www.safsaf.org

Today the Norewegian friends and supporters of Palestine had one of their dreams come true. The Provincial Government of Sor-Trondelag, (which includes Trondheim, Norway's third largest city and comprises almost 20 percent of Norway's population) voted by a majority to boycott Israeli Goods.

The boycott bill was put forward by a Member of the the Provincial Parliament on behalf of the ’Red Electoral Alliance’ (the communist left).

Those who voted in favor included: the ruling coalition of the Labour Party, the Socialist Left Party and the Centre Party. The biggest surprise was that the Christian Democratic Party voted in favor of the bill as well, a party who’s leader is a renowned racist and has taken strong positions against Palestinians, Arabs and Muslims.

The resolution itself completely and totally prohibits the purchase or sale of Israeli products in all municipalities in the province.

The success of this resolution is a dramatic development in the ongoing debates raging in Norway around Boycotts, Divestment and Sanctions against the Israeli occupation of Palestine and parts of Syria and Lebanon. The Provincial Parliament explicitly stated that the Israeli system of domination is no different from that of Apartheid South Africa. This comparison means a great deal in Sor-Trondelag, as its provincial parliament was the first Norwegian governmental body to boycott South African Apartheid. By boycotting Zionist Apartheid, the province has maintained its tradition of solidarity against oppression racism and occupation.

This development signifies a major comeback for the Boycott Israel movement in Norway which had declined with the ascendance of right-wing conservatives to power in recent years. The movement was greatly empowered by the election of the left back to power earlier this year, with the first majority government in 20 years.

This represents a major victory for the Boycott, Divestment Sanctions movement in Norway, Europe and the rest of the world in their campaign to bring about the end of Israel’s apartheid regime.

Translated by Hazem Jamjoum - Al-Awda Toronto (www.al-awda.ca)