New of Norway, issue 9, 1995
Godal's address, "Consolidation of Middle East Peace," came the day after the interim agreement between Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization was signed at the White House last month. The agreement aims at strengthening democratic development among Palestinians and improving the likelihood that difficult issues have been resolved.
U.S. participation in the process was a "job well done and helped bring about the necessary support for the signing," Godal said. The agreement, called "Oslo II," wasnamed for the secret peace talks held in Norway two years ago that initiated the Middle East peace process.
Violence on the West Bank remains an everyday happening, Godal acknowledged, and terrorism may weaken the basis for peace as counterforces try to sabotage the peace process. "The only way to undermine the counterforces is to have the social processes move forward," he said. "Explain to people that things are on the move. People must experience the change and improvement," which is one reason that monetary contributions are necessary to stabilize the area.
Norway donates $13 per capita to Palestinians annually, a standard which the foreign minister hopes other nations will match.