00:00Let's go back to Maria Tadeo in Riga now. Maria, you spoke to Norway's foreign minister,
00:05Espy Bart Eide. Tell us all about it.
00:10Yeah, I did, Stefan. And this is an interview in a week in which 11 countries, including Norway,
00:16but also the United Kingdom and France, have announced sanctions on Israeli settlements
00:21in the West Bank. Norway's foreign minister telling me, quote, this is fully justified.
00:26He also said Israel should now listen and change course, but added some very strong words.
00:32This is the most far right government in the history of Israel.
00:35It has now taken the country in a very dangerous path. Let's take a look.
00:40It is absolutely not true that this in any way is a reward for terrorism.
00:45This is a strong signal of support for all those Palestinians who want to have a decent Palestinian state
00:50that signed up to once upon a time to the agreement that there should be a two state solution.
00:55These are the people who rejected violence. The Palestinian Authority has nothing to do with
01:01Hamas, who is actually their enemy. And this is a support to the moderate Palestinians.
01:05But we cannot see this extreme settler activity where you have violence against people,
01:11against the livestock, against the houses, you know, really removing every possibility of life
01:18in large parts of what is, you know, legally Palestinian land to promote settlements.
01:23And I'm very happy that the United Kingdom and Canada and France and several other countries
01:30have come to the place where countries like Norway and Spain already were a long time ago.
01:35So this was a strong statement to Israel. They should take it seriously.
01:38You speak about the UK. The reaction from this rally has been to say you need to close down the
01:43consulate
01:44within 30 days from Jerusalem. To me, that really doesn't sound like a country that is going to change course.
01:52The Netanyahu government is the most far right government in Israel's history.
01:58Elections are coming. Let's see what the Israelis choose in this election.
02:02But that government, in my view, has driven Israel into a very dangerous place.
02:07Yes, I think that because I very much care about Israel, I'm inspired by Israel.
02:12I know Israel quite well, just like I am inspired by the Palestinian community.
02:15I think the only way to live normal, peaceful life in that region is that they agree to have a
02:22two-state solution
02:23to delineate what is Palestinian, what is Israeli, and then the Israeli state as a Jewish homeland can continue.
02:29So I believe that what we are doing, although it might seem rough for some Israelis right now,
02:34is also a commitment to peace for Israel itself.
02:37But just as a final point, so this is clear, you mentioned the election.
02:40Obviously, it will be the Israeli people who will have to decide who leads Israel.
02:44But do you hope, whatever the outcome, that there will be a change, of course,
02:49because it does not look like from the ground as it stands that much of this will prompt action?
02:54So it's not my job to tell other countries who to elect that for the Israelis.
02:59But I do hope that whatever happens there, Israel at one point understands that they've been on a very dangerous
03:06track.
03:06Wouldn't that the Yemeni government that's possible?
03:09That Israel, whatever government, understands that they have been losing so much support.
03:14They had tremendous support after 7th of October across the world.
03:19There was a lot of understanding for the need to defend against terrorist attacks.
03:24But the way that they have done this, you know, with more than 70,000 people killed,
03:29including 20,000 children, the total destruction of most of Gaza,
03:32it's a blatant violation of international law, of international human rights law, of international humanitarian law.
03:38And the problem has been that too many countries have been careful in criticizing Israel
03:43because you were so easily attacked by being anti-Semitic, which is a very...
03:47That has been a factor, you think?
03:49I think that has led to less daring positions.
03:54And since we started this interview with Ukraine, I want to say that the West has been very firm and
04:00clear and good
04:01on saying that Ukraine is the victim of a Russian aggression.
04:05But we would be more credible if we stood up for international law everywhere, against all people, you know, all
04:13times.
04:14And I think by being so wobbly and so unclear and so unfensible in the dealing with the Middle East,
04:21I think that has undermined the credibility of the West.
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