Response to interpellation 2024/25:263 on international presence on the West Bank
Translated from Swedish by AI; the translation may contain errors. The Swedish text is the original.
Summary AI, written in advance
The debate concerns the government's decision to withdraw support for the Ecumenical Companion Program and eight rights organizations in the West Bank. M considers the situation to be serious and that the settlement policy violates international law 1. M wants to invest in economic development, health, and democracy reforms 2 and argues that the money should go where it does the most good 3 4. V considers it strange that the support is being stopped since the program mitigates violence 5 and that support for these functioning projects should be increased instead of reduced 6 7. MP considers that the government is not doing enough and that the program has a calming effect 8. S considers it surprising that the government is working to end the program and that the reduction has tangible consequences 9.
Written by AI in advance and may contain errors. The numbers lead to the speech a statement builds on; check against the text below.
Statsrådet Benjamin Dousa (M)
Mr. Speaker! Lotta Johnsson Fornarve has asked me if I consider it important that there is an international civilian presence in the West Bank. This concerns, for example, the escort program, which has the task of protecting the civilian population, mitigating violence, documenting human rights violations, and showing support for Palestinian and Israeli organizations and individuals working for a peaceful solution to the conflict. She has also asked me if, if the answer to the above question is yes, I intend to work to ensure that Swedish aid is used so that there is an international civilian presence in the West Bank similar to the escort program.
The situation in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, is very serious, with increased settler violence and continued settlement expansion. The government's policy on the area is clear: the settlements and the settlement policy violate international law, undermine the two-state solution, and contribute to an elevated level of conflict. Settler violence must cease, and the government is therefore acting for further EU sanctions against extremist settlers.
Sweden is a major core donor to several international organizations that have a presence at the West Bank and that regularly report on the situation for human rights. Through the aid, the Swedish civilian presence in the EU's crisis management operation Eupol Copps is also financed.
In March 2024, the government adopted a new strategy for development cooperation with the MENA region, which includes, among other things, specific funds for Palestine. The overall orientation of Palestinian aid is to contribute to peaceful development by promoting the long-term conditions for a negotiated two-state solution in accordance with international law.
In connection with the operationalization of the new strategy, Sida identifies new opportunities and possible interventions while the existing supports are reviewed. This is done to ensure that all interventions are in line with the goals set out in the strategy and so that the collective interventions contribute to reaching these goals in the best possible way. This operationalization work takes place at the agency level within the framework of the government's governance.
Lotta Johnsson Fornarve (V)
Mr. Speaker! Thank you, Minister, for the answer to my interpellation, even though I am not satisfied with it.
It is good that the Minister acknowledges that the situation in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, is very serious with increased settler violence. It is also good that the government is clear that the settlement policy violates international law as well as undermines the two-state solution and contributes to an elevated level of conflict.
Against that background, it therefore becomes even more strange that S has chosen to stop the support to several Palestinian rights organizations and to the Swedish Ecumenical Companion Program, which contributes to reducing violence and promoting a two-state solution. For over 20 years, so-called companions and international observers from around the world have come to the West Bank to protect the civilian population, de-escalate violence, document human rights violations, and show support for Palestinian and Israeli organizations and individuals working for a peaceful solution to the conflict. Why stop this important peacekeeping project that has been so successful?
The Swedish Ecumenical Companion Programme to Palestine and Israel started in 2002. Since then, over 2,000 international observers from approximately 25 countries, of which approximately 400 are from Sweden, have been on site on the West Bank and in East Jerusalem to provide protection and support to the civilian population under the leadership of the World Council of Churches. Now, this important work is at risk of being completely lost.
Följeslagare has walked with Palestinian schoolchildren past military checkpoints on their way to school, provided international protection for livestock herders and families harvesting their olives, and documented instances where families have had their homes demolished or their land confiscated.
In recent years, not least since October 7, 2023, violence, harassment, and general lawlessness have increased in the West Bank. In a recently published report from the Israeli human rights organization Kerem Navot, it is documented that 50 Palestinian communities in the West Bank have been emptied, that houses have been destroyed, and that Palestinians have been displaced, harassed, and also killed by aggressive illegal settlers. At the same time, 41 new illegal settlements have been established.
The Minister refers to Eupol Copps, but they have nothing to do with the issue of settler violence or with an international protective presence for civilians in the West Bank. Protective presence, which the escort method is based on, is an internationally recognized method used in conflict zones around the world. The escort program also promotes the possibility of a two-state solution by contributing to the fact that Palestinians can remain in the West Bank. To then decide to remove support for this important program is not only inhumane but also counterproductive if the government is serious about supporting a two-state solution.
Has the Minister for Foreign Affairs really been informed about the role that the companion program has had over a period of 20 years? Did the Minister visit the companion program during his recent visit? I have visited the program myself and seen how important the work is.
In an article, 100 former companions write that they are often alone in witnessing what is happening. Their presence is not only protective, but by being there and documenting and telling when no one else does, they also increase knowledge about life under occupation. They plead that the program should be allowed to continue.
Jacob Risberg (MP)
Mr. Speaker! I thank the Minister for being here and debating with us today on, among other things, the companion program.
In the government's statement, it is clear that Israeli settlements and the Israeli settlement policy violate international law. On that, we agree. We also agree that the violence by settlers must cease. State Secretary Dousa said in his response that the government is acting for further EU sanctions against extremist settlers.
Unfortunately, this is not enough to put an end to the settler violence or the settlements. They say they do not want to support a ban on the trade of goods from settlements - something that could contribute - or even discuss sanctions against the two ministers in the far-right government in Israel who support the violence, who even arm the settlers, namely Ben Gvir and Smotrich. There are things there that we could act on.
Now we are talking primarily about the support for the Ecumenical Companion Programme. It was during the second Intifada, which started in 2000, that it was discovered that Palestinian and Israeli civilians were caught in the violence that was taking place. Church leaders in Jerusalem discovered that people were doubly exposed; they were also marginalized even within the Palestinian groups. A letter was written to the World Council of Churches requesting an international presence to be able to observe, report, and exert a calming effect on the expressions of violence that occurred primarily in the occupied territories. Since then, the Ecumenical Companion Programme has been on site. Companions from about twenty countries in the world have participated in the programme, and Sweden has been one of the absolute largest contributors to the programme and has also had the most companions on site.
The companion program is based on international law and the ideology of non-violence, and the presence is de-escalating. Even the Israeli military says that the companion program helps to keep the level of violence down, and that is positive.
The Minister referred in his answer to the support for Eupol Copps, but they have nothing to do with the Israeli settler violence. They are there to support and build up the Palestinian police. But the Palestinian police are not allowed to act in area C at all, where we can see much of the violence. One is not allowed to act within the Israeli settlements at all, and one is not allowed to act even on the edges of the Israeli settlements, where we see much of the violence. Eupol Copps and the Palestinian police force cannot contribute here. It is the Israeli police that are to try to prevent the violence. The Israeli military is there to protect settlers, even though according to international law one has a mandate to also protect the civilian Palestinians because it is a matter of occupation.
Here we see the problem. The measures we provide to Eupol Copps do not help against what it is said to want to prevent, that is, settler violence.
The companions have a calming effect. We have seen that. They are appreciated by both Palestinian civilians and by the Israeli military when we see that violence arises. They have said that time and again.
Many years ago, I was an ecumenical companion, and I accompanied, among other things, schoolchildren in Hebron who were attacked by stone-throwing on their way to school. When we were there and filming, the stone-throwing stopped. Our presence and the work of observing had a calming effect. That type of presence contributes to dampening the settler violence.
Eva Lindh (S)
Mr. Speaker! I want to start by thanking not only Jacob Risberg but also all others who have been companions during the time that the program has existed. They have made an invaluable contribution, and that is also why I have wanted to participate in this debate. I want to highlight and clarify that the efforts have been important.
I have not been on site, and I have not been a companion either. But I have on several occasions met those who have been companions. I have been convinced of the importance of this, but the companion program has also fulfilled its function. It has not only been a matter of mitigating violence but also of spreading knowledge. I am one of those who have had to take part in the knowledge that the companions have taken home with them.
The war that is currently ongoing in Gaza has entailed completely superhuman suffering for so many children and their families. It is hardly possible to even comprehend the extent of the impact on all the children growing up there now.
In Västbanken, the violence has escalated. It is reported that 700 people have been killed, and 150 of them are children. Settler violence is also increasing. It is therefore a matter of an everyday life characterized by fear, threats, and violence. The situation has worsened.
The type of efforts that the companion program entails have been important during all the 20 years that it has functioned. But they are no less important right now.
I note that the Minister says that the settler violence must cease. We are in complete agreement on that. It must. What is happening is completely unreasonable. Therefore, it is surprising - I actually do not understand it - that in this situation, which is worse than ever and when we agree that the settler violence must cease, one seems to be working for this program to cease. It is actually the effect of the government's policy.
Why are no efforts made to preserve what has been proven to work? We know that it works. There are many stories that this is the only protection for civilians that exists now. It is very important to stand guard over the support that this is.
The Minister refers to the fact that this is not an active decision by the government. But it becomes an effect of the government's policy. I still want to ask the Minister, now that we have the opportunity to debate and discuss the conditions for Västbanken but also, in a specific order, the accompanying program. Will the government make any interventions to still safeguard this? It is possible to do so even if the decision has now been made.
Statsrådet Benjamin Dousa (M)
Madam Speaker! Just as several have said, the situation in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, is very serious. Just as has also been said before, I visited just a few weeks ago an area adjacent to Ramallah that has been subjected to deeply serious attacks from Israeli extreme settlers. Families have had their cars burned. I heard stories about stone-throwing and of waking up in the middle of the night and being worried that the entire house will burn down.
I also met a very good Israeli organization that works on pursuing legal proceedings against these settlers but which, unfortunately, is not prioritized to a sufficient extent by the Israeli state. There is, therefore, much to be done in this area. The government is, as mentioned, pursuing this at the EU level.
At the same time, we know that the aid budget is not infinite. Being the Minister for Development Cooperation involves making tough decisions and making tough prioritizations every day.
When the government decided in March on a new development strategy for the MENA region, including special funds for Palestine, a proper rethink was made. For Palestine, we are investing more concentrated efforts in economic development. We support activities that work to address the major health challenges resulting from the ongoing war and promote the reforms needed for democracy and good governance. This collectively contributes to strengthened conditions for a two-state solution in accordance with international law. The rethink also includes the important work of countering extremism, Islamism, and antisemitism.
This program is and has been very good. But we hope that the new strategy can promote these reforms in a much more comprehensive and far-reaching way, so that the Palestinian people can live in freedom and democracy in the long term.
Furthermore, Sweden is a major core donor to several international organizations, for example the UN's Peacekeeping program, which has a presence at the West Bank and regularly reports on the situation from a peacekeeping perspective.
The interpellation question specifically mentions the Ecumenical Companion Program. The program has, as stated, existed for a long time with support and participation from different countries. Sweden has over time provided large contributions. Now we are concluding it, partly to create space for other, new initiatives in accordance with the new strategy. Civil society and international organizations continue to be very important partners. This work takes place at the agency level within the framework of the government's governance.
Lotta Johnsson Fornarve (V)
Madam Speaker! Thank you, Minister, for further answers!
It is good that the Minister has seen the violence at Västbanken at close range. It increases the understanding.
The Minister says that he must make tough decisions and prioritize in the aid. I understand that, but I assert with determination that the government is prioritizing incorrectly when it cuts the support for the companion program. It is better to invest in that which one knows really works.
In a situation where the violence and harassment against Palestinians in the West Bank and in East Jerusalem worsens every day, the companion program and other organizations working to promote justice, protect human dignity, and promote peace in the region are needed more than ever.
The Minister for Foreign Affairs mentions the international organizations that receive core funding from Sweden, such as the UN's humanitarian agencies. The companion program's work contributes to precisely these actors. For example, the companion program is considered a central actor in the Protection Cluster, the part of the UN's humanitarian system that coordinates the work for the protection of civilians. The work of the UN and civil society are prerequisites for each other. Again: Removing the support for the companion program is counterproductive.
Organizations that work for peace and human rights and thus contribute to a two-state solution should receive increased support, but Sida chooses instead to withdraw support to a number of organizations. Why? For me, and surely for many of the voters, it is completely incomprehensible. Sida is withdrawing support not only for the accompaniment program but also for eight Palestinian and Israeli rights organizations.
Sida has been tasked with implementing the new strategy where the Palestine window, among other things, aims to strengthen the capacity for good governance, democracy and the principles of the rule of law as well as accountability and the promotion of a two-state solution in accordance with international law. The companion program and the other rights organizations work with exactly what is requested in the goal. The companion program works with accountability, documentation of international law violations as well as information work to promote respect for international law.
The decision to suspend support comes when settlers' and soldiers' attacks against Palestinians and their property in the West Bank have never been more extensive. Between October 7, 2023, and September 16, 2024, nearly 1,400 attacks have taken place and 700 Palestinians have been killed. Does the government not see the actual needs that exist in the occupied territory?
If the government is serious about standing up for a two-state solution and being critical of the illegal settlements, the support for the organizations that promote a peaceful development should increase, not decrease.
Does the Minister of State not consider it important that there is an international civilian presence on the West Bank, for example the observer program which has the task of protecting the civilian population, mitigating violence, documenting human rights violations and showing support for Palestinian and Israeli organizations and individuals working for a peaceful solution to the conflict?
I really want to urge the Minister to listen to the companions and reconsider the decision to withdraw the support for the companion program.
Jacob Risberg (MP)
Madam Speaker! We know that the escort program works. We have heard it time and again from both Palestinian civilians and Israeli civilians and Israeli military personnel. It has a calming effect on the settler violence, on precisely the things that are requested in the government's new strategy.
The only answer I heard from the Minister of Justice regarding the interpellation was that they are pushing for increased sanctions at the EU level. I do not see in what way the other matters mentioned by the Minister for Foreign Affairs contribute to reducing settler violence at all.
Long before October 7, 2023, we saw increased violence from the settlers on the West Bank. Since the new government in Israel took office, they have supported these acts of violence and even armed settlers with American military weapons.
The Minister for Foreign Affairs says that the aid budget is not infinite. It absolutely is not, but why are we cutting out what we already know works? Why are we cutting out the civil society that we know works?
The Minister for Foreign Affairs mentioned both the UN's MR program and other types of UN bodies. But just as Lotta Johnsson Fornarve says, both the MR program and OCHA are dependent on what the accompanying program reports in. I have myself stood at a checkpoint and counted how many Palestinians are allowed to pass during a day. That type of information forms the basis for the UN programs' work.
Why remove what works? Why throttle what the Palestinian church leaders say they want on the West Bank and what the Palestinian and Israeli MR organizations say is necessary to maintain some form of order there?
Eva Lindh (S)
Madam Speaker! Let us imagine ourselves in the situation of being a civilian at Västbanken and always feeling worried about being subjected to violence, harassment, and threats, and perhaps about not surviving the day. When there is then something or someone who can provide protection in everyday life, it makes a very big difference.
Several of us have been on the point that the companion program is a program that works. I understand the Minister when he says that these are tough decisions. I would also think so if I were responsible for this. Many in the government and its coalition parties seem in and of themselves to be proud of the cuts being made in aid, and when they are made, the consequences are tangible. It is about flesh and blood in people's everyday lives when aid is reduced, and this is such an example.
I want to ask again: When one now, at least from the Swedish side, throws away a well-functioning initiative that is important in people's everyday lives, is there any thought or plan from the government's side regarding compensating for this? It would be an important announcement - naturally not only for the companions, for they feel in their hearts how important this activity is, but also for the people who live there and no longer receive the small protection they have nevertheless had in a difficult and tough everyday life.
Statsrådet Benjamin Dousa (M)
Madam Speaker! When I sat opposite the Palestinian Prime Minister a few weeks ago, he said a few words that will truly stay with me for the rest of my life. He said: The biggest obstacle to our development is the occupation. I believe we can all agree on that. He continued by saying: But we will do what we can to achieve free elections here in Palestine, to build institutions that are long-term and inclusive and that function, and to ensure that we have an economic development that goes in the right direction - so that we have a Palestinian business sector that stands on its own feet and can sell goods and services to other countries and that employs hundreds of thousands of people in Palestine.
It is precisely these parts that the government intends to support, help, develop and invest in with the new strategy. One does not build institutions simply by supporting a single organization, but it also requires commitment, help, support and work from the government's side. When it comes to democracy, democratic elections have not been held at Västbanken for over a decade.
These are, therefore, major issues that are important for the Palestinian people and for which more money can now be allocated. Organizations working with precisely these issues will, therefore, receive more money and new tools to ensure that the Palestinian people can live in a democracy with stable, well-functioning institutions and, hopefully, also in the near future be able to participate in democratic elections.
If one looks at the support for Palestine as a whole and also includes Gaza, one sees that we are now making massive investments to alleviate the humanitarian suffering as much as possible. 800 million kronor will be allocated to help the civilian population in Gaza, who are living in one of the worst places on the entire globe right now.
The government's work both on the development side, in the short term primarily in the West Bank but in the future hopefully also in Gaza, and when it comes to the humanitarian work is therefore wholehearted, but we also want the money to go where we can do as much good as is possible. We want to support precisely economic development, democracy and above all institution-building.
Lotta Johnsson Fornarve (V)
Madam Speaker! Thank you, Minister, for further answers!
I think it is very good that the minister recognizes the Israeli occupation. It is positive to hear it from a moderate minister.
We naturally do not believe that it is only by supporting an organization that one creates development, peace and stability in the area. But supporting organizations such as the accompaniment program and other human rights organizations contributes significantly to peace.
I would therefore like to urge the Minister to rethink and think correctly. Clarify that Sweden wants to see a two-state solution to the conflict, as well as that the Israeli occupation must end and the illegal Israeli settlements on occupied territory be withdrawn. Support the forces working for such a solution, and resume and increase support to functioning projects such as the Ecumenical Companion Programme and to Palestinian and Israeli human rights organizations, which for many years have had Swedish support for their work documenting and reporting on the occupying power's crimes against Palestinians' human rights and against international law on occupied territory. This has been extremely important and valuable.
Decisions on suspended support come when settlers' and soldiers' attacks against Palestinians and their property in the West Bank have never been more extensive. The accompaniment program protects Palestinian civilians, especially children, by being present as observers at Israeli checkpoints and accompanying children to and from school. This work must be allowed to continue.
Does the Minister not consider it important that there is an international civilian presence on the West Bank, such as the escort program, which has the task of protecting the civilian population - no one else does that! - and of de-escalating violence and documenting human rights violations? Support what actually works on the ground!
Statsrådet Benjamin Dousa (M)
Madam Speaker! How the somber development in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is to be reversed is a question that unfortunately has no entirely simple answer or is completely simple to solve for the Swedish Riksdag or, for that matter, the Swedish government. Fundamentally, it is about the parties' political will and their insight that a negotiated two-state solution is the only sustainable solution, that such a solution is in both Israel's and Palestine's interest, and that the alternative, namely continued violence and conflict, is unsustainable and serves no one's interests.
The Swedish government's support and commitment to the Palestinian people will continue. The new strategy has, as we have touched upon previously, a clearer focus on growth, trade, institution-building, and democracy. I look forward to many interpellation debates, question periods, and other contexts where we can hopefully, when the support has been disbursed and results begin to show, see that the Palestinian people receive new employment and hopefully more democracy and more well-functioning institutions as a result of the new Swedish support, which is extensive - among the largest in the entire world.
Source: The Swedish Parliament. The speeches come from the open data of the Riksdag, translated into English by AI, which may contain errors.