Dear Mr Carl Bildt,
My name is Majed Abusalama. I am 23 years old and I live in the Jabalya Refugee Camp, Gaza. I was born during the first Intifada, raised during the second and “found my voice” during the brutal Israeli attack on Gaza in December 2008/January 2009. So many of my friends and family members are dead as a result. However, I have chosen the sentence “never look back” as a motto and I have decided to dedicate my life to a just peace in Palestine.
Majed Abusalama
I have been asked to write this letter on behalf of the new generations in Palestine because my bewilderment and disappointment reflects theirs.
You don’t know me, but I know you. I know that you were one of the first high-ranking political figures to visit Gaza after the Israeli assault at the end of 2008. I know that in the aftermath of another Israeli attack, this time on the Free Gaza flotilla in 2010 (which left nine peace activists dead), you took the time to meet with the Swedish citizens who had been on board and publicly demanded that Israel end its siege on Gaza. I also know that you hosted Sweden’s first official welcoming ceremony for a Palestinian representative just two months ago, after upgrading his office’s status in your country from “general delegation” to “mission.” You have a long track record of fighting for the protection of human rights in the Middle East and in the world, and we thank you from the bottom of our hearts.
That is one reason why, after I finished a speaking tour in about 20 European countries talking about the dreams of Palestinian youth, daily life in Gaza and the peace process, I spent much time in Stockholm. It mostly felt like home, and we successfully managed to collect donations, such as musical instruments, from the Swedish people for the people of Gaza.
But now, I — we — feel betrayed. I cannot describe the depth of our shock and feeling of abandonment when we heard that you had voted against Palestinian membership in UNESCO. It was like a slap in the face to me and to my generation. We are aware that your reluctance to recognize Palestine as a state now is based on your acknowledgement that there can be no independent state while the occupation continues. However, negotiations have gone nowhere for more than 40 years, and the siege of Gaza is in its sixth year. Just how long are we supposed to wait? Until the right-wing government of Israel decides to finally give us a truly viable, independent state, or at least rights that are equal to those of Jewish Israelis? Do you truly think that will happen without international action that makes it clear that there is no choice? If so, the lesson of history has not been learned.
As we watch our countrymen in Egypt, Tunisia, Libya, Yemen and Syria take their fate into their own hands, we feel it is time for us to do the same. By voting against one of our first independent steps as a people who want to be part of the international community, you signaled that Sweden is now siding with the paternalistic imperialism of the Western countries, led by the United States. Is this truly the message you want to send to the youth of the Middle East, who for the first time are taking the campaign for democracy into their own hands? Sweden has the opportunity to play a new and important role in the Middle East, as the U.S. loses more and more credibility. But if you follow the lead of the “bully minority,” Sweden will squander the reputation of a brave standard-bearer for the underdog.
The new generation in Palestine wants to live in peace, to have the opportunity to engage and trade with the world. We have the same dreams, really, as the youth of Sweden. And now, “Arab Spring” has given us the courage to do what we can to achieve those dreams, despite the ongoing occupation. Please don’t join with those who would crush those dreams!
I am looking forward to your response.
Sincerely,
Majed Abusalama
A beautiful letter. Implicit is the idea that there will be no just and lasting I/P peace until the nations — and Sweden among them, perhaps leading them — create such a changed set of circumstances in the environment in which Israel exists (in the sea in which Israel swims) that Israel finds it more to its interest to withdraw the settlers, demolish the settlements and wall, and end the siege, and indeed end the occupation, and share the water than it has for 44 years found it in its interest to insert settlers and build settlements and wall, and impose siege on Gaza and continue the occupation, and steal most of the water.
Palestinians cannot do it by themselves. They need help from outside. Sweden can and should help. How shocking that it does not.
The US administration said Palestine does not have the attributes of a state, also fearing Palestine’s admittance to the International Criminal Court and other specialized agencies, unfortunately for the indispensible nation this matter has already been decided by Palestine’s acceptance as a state into membership of UNESCO under the “all states” formula, and according to two leading International Human rights Lawyers Professor’s William A Schabas and Andrew Clapham nothing now stands in the way of Palestine acceding to the Rome statute except Palestine itself….He [the Prosecutor] should now move on to an assessment of the substance of the allegations that crimes under the statute have been committed in Palestine since 1 July 2002. Thanks to “Hostage” for finding this gem in an earlier comment from him, see http://humanrightsdoctorate.blogspot.com/2011/11/relevant-depositary-practice-of.html for more details on this.
Perhaps a “just war” must precede a “just peace”.
Fine letter by all means. Just a one little thing, Swedish PM now is Mr. Fredrik Reinfeldt.
I was in Stockhom Saturday 4 weeks ago…first visit…one day…
Very nice city…clean..walkable..people tall as hell..all slender…polite..purposeful walkers..non smokers (xsmokers notice this)..all-in-all a gracious nation with gracious people.
I get home and Bingo! Sweden votes against admitting Plestine to UNESCO.
What the s..t???? What was the humongous clue I missed? What hint of evil did I not see? Where was it?
I want to go back and slap each and every one in the face and ask them what the hell were they thinking of?