Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide. EPA
Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide. EPA
Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide. EPA
Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide. EPA

Norway’s Foreign Minister: Gaza ceasefire is the 'starting point' rather than 'endpoint'


Mina Al-Oraibi
  • English
  • Arabic

Norway’s Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide has said the ceasefire in Gaza must be a “starting point” rather than an “endpoint”. Speaking to The National in Davos where he attended the World Economic Forum’s annual meeting, he said “we know very well from experience in Gaza, in Palestine, in the Middle East and in the whole world that ceasefires are not peace … in order to make ceasefires into a peace agreement, you need to do much more work”.

He called on countries “to use that momentum to start a course that leads to something that can actually last”.

While the minister said he was “obviously very relieved that there is a ceasefire”, he stressed that “what is tragic is that this ceasefire comes only now because it’s literally the same proposal as [former US president Joe] Biden put on the table in May”. He added that “of course this whole war shouldn’t have happened but at least everything that happened after May is a little bit in vain because now we have the same proposal … same dates, same number of people and refugees and hostages and prisoners”.

The first images of the Israeli hostages being released showed Hamas fighters in uniforms and organised, which raised questions as to their current status. Mr Eide said “Hamas has been severely degraded, but they're still there, as we could see”. He also referred to “Antony Blinken, while he was still secretary of state, saying that you have killed or eliminated many fighters, but you also recruited new fighters because the hatred goes on”.

Mr Eide spoke of how “the outgoing and the incoming US administration actually joined forces” to deliver the ceasefire. He singled out the new US Middle East Envoy Steve Witkoff for being “very helpful in underlining that also the new president really wanted this” ceasefire. Mr Eide explained that “the fact that it was communicated so clearly from the Trump administration that he wanted this off the table before he became president, through Steve Witkoff, this is public knowledge … they've been very clear, clearly communicating that,” which helped bring the deal to a close.

However, whether the new US President Donald Trump will equally want a peace deal that establishes a two state solution is not clear. What is clear is that 75 per cent of UN member states now recognise Palestine and there is now a global alliance, led by Saudi Arabia and Norway, advocating for the two state solution. Oslo was holding the third international meeting of the global coalition to bring about a two state solution when the ceasefire was announced, which “inspired the meeting”, Mr Eide said.

“This is, in many ways, the moment we have been preparing for. That's the work of Qatar, of Egypt, of the United States, and, of course, the parties. But now starts the hard work of not only implementing the ceasefire, but also how can we take it into something meaningful … how the two state solution comes into being is not yet clear.”

While the ultimate contours of any agreement for a two state solution should be based on UN Security Council resolutions and the 1967 borders of Palestine, there is much resistance within the Israeli political class, and disarray among Palestinian leadership. “We need to move forward to something that we haven't yet seen … this is so important to say in this moment of little hope, in order to make into a big hope, we need to move in that direction,” according to Mr Eide.

On Mr Trump’s approach to a two state solution, Mr Eide expressed optimism, explaining: “I have to say that what we have seen so far, and this is really early days, but so far, has made me rather more optimistic than more pessimistic around the change of [US] president”. Mr Trump had overseen the Abraham Accords which established ties between the UAE, Bahrain and Morocco with Israel. Mr Eide said there is “a strong commitment from President Trump to complete the Abraham Accords, Saudi Arabia in particular, as you know, leading those Arab states that have not normalised and have been very clear that they want to work with Trump and Israel towards normalisation, but only with Palestine involved this time”.

He added that in his inauguration speech on Monday, “President Donald Trump was very clearly messaging desire to stop wars and to be a peacemaker … He actually wants to bring lasting peace to more than one place. One of those places is probably Ukraine, but I dare to hope that it also includes the Middle East, based on what we've heard so far.”

Espen Barth Eide optimistic about Donald Trump

There is a clear sense of “new energy” with Mr Trump’s election that Mr Eide and other diplomats seek to build upon. The ceasefire itself has also created a positive dynamic. The release of hostages and detainees “creates a sense of progress in society … this creates a positive dynamic that might supersede the more negative dynamics that led to the continuation of the fighting. But it has to be implemented”.

The ceasefire in Gaza is of major significance but so is the one in Lebanon. Mr Eide said the region is witnessing a moment of possibility, saying “there is hope, with all caveats, in Gaza and in Palestine. There is hope in Lebanon. There's hope in Syria and let all these hopes reinforce each other.”

Mr Eide visited both Lebanon and Syria before heading to Davos. He said the fact that a president and prime minister were now in place in Lebanon was promising but “it is very important that the parties to the Lebanon ceasefire, Israel and Hezbollah, doing what they promised to do”. He added “everyone should allow the Lebanese army to establish themselves in the South”, as mandated in the agreement and by UN Security Resolution 1701.

Mr Eide then went on to Syria where he met officials, including Syrian interim leader Ahmed Al Sharaa, who has a “colourful background” and is part of this “extremely complex puzzle of fighters in Syria”. He expressed his admiration for Mr Al Sharaa, saying “I have to say, I was very impressed by Al Sharaa, he came across as highly intelligent, knowledgeable and genuine and at least what I can testify is that he says the right things”. He added that ''most of what he has done is what I would think is the right things, and if he's done something not so right, he also recognises that”.

Espen Barth Eide calls for end of Syria sanctions

Mr Eide did not hide his optimism for Syria, stating “there is a new light of hope in Syria … but it's not an experienced administration, they still have to bring in a lot of other groups”. Mr Eide stressed the importance of having a “national reconciliation process or a national process of state building”.

The issue of state building is one that Mr Eide focused on, explaining: “They still have to build a state. Syria is a people, a population. It's a country. It has borders, but it's not really a state right now … So you have to build that state and then make sure that that state is established in line with international principles”.

He added that the international community must support Syria. “I think it can work. And I think that if people like me and all my colleagues just say it will not work, we might soon be right. So let's this time give it a chance, and also because it is part of this regional development.”

He stressed the importance of a Syrian-owned process: “Syria has to be fixed by Syrians. So my advice would be to other countries not to try to fix it on their behalf. That was tried in Iraq, it was, I think it's a broad consensus that was not very smart, including firing everyone who knew anything” in reference to de-Baathification in Iraq.

However, there is room to help Syria from the outside, “the first thing we should do is to look at the sanctions regime. There are many different sanctions, but those sanctions that were imposed on Syria as a country because of [former Syrian president Bashar Al Assad, I happen to think it's rather strange to keep those sanctions when Assad is gone. The whole purpose was to punish the Assad regime. It's over. It's gone”. He added that while the new authorities in Syria should be monitored and called out if they do something wrong, they should not be under sanctions now.

While Mr Eide is heavily involved in peace efforts in the Middle East, he is also of course concerned about the war in Ukraine and how it can be resolved. Mr Eide noted that the Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha went to Syria “as one of the first [visitors] because he recognises the connection between the weakening of Russia and that he would like to see in his own country, of course, and what's happening in Syria, because Russia did not fare well in what happened in these changes in Syria”. He added that “most people, including most of the Ukrainians, would like peace to come”. Mr Eide said there is “ no purpose in itself to make wars last longer than necessary. So if the advent of Trump can lead to a new impulse to look for a settlement that can bring peace to Ukraine, to Europe, in principle, is welcome”.

There was a general agreement among officials in Davos of the need for a settlement in Ukraine and an end to the war the started by Russia almost three years ago. Mr Eide said that how the war ends is important as “we need to shape the postwar order, the post-Ukraine war order in Europe, in such a way that is not just a pause” of the war, adding it would be good if it came about quickly if the right conditions were met. Mr Eide said he expected change to come on several fronts. “I think we will see a difference when we meet again at the next Davos. Things will be different, in Europe and hopefully in the Middle East”.

The five pillars of Islam

1. Fasting 

2. Prayer 

3. Hajj 

4. Shahada 

5. Zakat 

MATCH INFO

Liverpool 4 (Salah (pen 4, 33', & pen 88', Van Dijk (20')

Leeds United 3 (Harrison 12', Bamford 30', Klich 66')

Man of the match Mohamed Salah (Liverpool)

The years Ramadan fell in May

1987

1954

1921

1888

GOLF’S RAHMBO

- 5 wins in 22 months as pro
- Three wins in past 10 starts
- 45 pro starts worldwide: 5 wins, 17 top 5s
- Ranked 551th in world on debut, now No 4 (was No 2 earlier this year)
- 5th player in last 30 years to win 3 European Tour and 2 PGA Tour titles before age 24 (Woods, Garcia, McIlroy, Spieth)

Various Artists 
Habibi Funk: An Eclectic Selection Of Music From The Arab World (Habibi Funk)
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The five pillars of Islam

1. Fasting

2. Prayer

3. Hajj

4. Shahada

5. Zakat 

RESULTS
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The burning issue

The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.

Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins

Read part two: how climate change drove the race for an alternative 

Read part one: how cars came to the UAE

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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The%20specs
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MATCH INFO

Karnatake Tuskers 114-1 (10 ovs)

Charles 57, Amla 47

Bangla Tigers 117-5 (8.5 ovs)

Fletcher 40, Moores 28 no, Lamichhane 2-9

Bangla Tiger win by five wickets

The Voice of Hind Rajab

Starring: Saja Kilani, Clara Khoury, Motaz Malhees

Director: Kaouther Ben Hania

Rating: 4/5

'Texas Chainsaw Massacre'

Rating: 1 out of 4

Running time: 81 minutes

Director: David Blue Garcia

Starring: Sarah Yarkin, Elsie Fisher, Mark Burnham

Company%20Profile
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Key facilities
  • Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
  • Premier League-standard football pitch
  • 400m Olympic running track
  • NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
  • 600-seat auditorium
  • Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
  • An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
  • Specialist robotics and science laboratories
  • AR and VR-enabled learning centres
  • Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
What is the FNC?

The Federal National Council is one of five federal authorities established by the UAE constitution. It held its first session on December 2, 1972, a year to the day after Federation.
It has 40 members, eight of whom are women. The members represent the UAE population through each of the emirates. Abu Dhabi and Dubai have eight members each, Sharjah and Ras al Khaimah six, and Ajman, Fujairah and Umm Al Quwain have four.
They bring Emirati issues to the council for debate and put those concerns to ministers summoned for questioning. 
The FNC’s main functions include passing, amending or rejecting federal draft laws, discussing international treaties and agreements, and offering recommendations on general subjects raised during sessions.
Federal draft laws must first pass through the FNC for recommendations when members can amend the laws to suit the needs of citizens. The draft laws are then forwarded to the Cabinet for consideration and approval. 
Since 2006, half of the members have been elected by UAE citizens to serve four-year terms and the other half are appointed by the Ruler’s Courts of the seven emirates.
In the 2015 elections, 78 of the 252 candidates were women. Women also represented 48 per cent of all voters and 67 per cent of the voters were under the age of 40.
 

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Farage on Muslim Brotherhood

Nigel Farage told Reform's annual conference that the party will proscribe the Muslim Brotherhood if he becomes Prime Minister.
"We will stop dangerous organisations with links to terrorism operating in our country," he said. "Quite why we've been so gutless about this – both Labour and Conservative – I don't know.
“All across the Middle East, countries have banned and proscribed the Muslim Brotherhood as a dangerous organisation. We will do the very same.”
It is 10 years since a ground-breaking report into the Muslim Brotherhood by Sir John Jenkins.
Among the former diplomat's findings was an assessment that “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” has “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
The prime minister at the time, David Cameron, who commissioned the report, said membership or association with the Muslim Brotherhood was a "possible indicator of extremism" but it would not be banned.

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Final%20Fantasy%20XVI
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Diablo%20IV
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Baldur's%20Gate%203
%3Cp%3EDeveloper%3A%20Larian%20Studios%0D%3Cbr%3EPublisher%3A%20Larian%20Studios%0D%3Cbr%3EConsole%3A%20PC%0D%3Cbr%3ERelease%20date%3A%20August%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
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Starfield
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RACE CARD

6.30pm: Al Maktoum Challenge Round-3 – Group 1 (PA) $65,000 (Dirt) 2,000m

7.05pm: Handicap (TB) $65,000 (Turf) 1,800m

7.40pm: Meydan Classic – Listed (TB) $88,000 (T) 1,600m

8.15pm: Nad Al Sheba Trophy – Group 3 (TB) $195,000 (T) 2,810m

8.50pm: Dubai Millennium Stakes – Group 3 (TB) $130,000 (T) 2,000m

9.25pm: Meydan Challenge – Listed Handicap (TB) $88,000 (T) 1,400m

ALRAWABI%20SCHOOL%20FOR%20GIRLS
%3Cp%3ECreator%3A%20Tima%20Shomali%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EStarring%3A%C2%A0Tara%20Abboud%2C%C2%A0Kira%20Yaghnam%2C%20Tara%20Atalla%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ERating%3A%204%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Key findings of Jenkins report
  • Founder of the Muslim Brotherhood, Hassan al Banna, "accepted the political utility of violence"
  • Views of key Muslim Brotherhood ideologue, Sayyid Qutb, have “consistently been understood” as permitting “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” and “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
  • Muslim Brotherhood at all levels has repeatedly defended Hamas attacks against Israel, including the use of suicide bombers and the killing of civilians.
  • Laying out the report in the House of Commons, David Cameron told MPs: "The main findings of the review support the conclusion that membership of, association with, or influence by the Muslim Brotherhood should be considered as a possible indicator of extremism."
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
War 2

Director: Ayan Mukerji

Stars: Hrithik Roshan, NTR, Kiara Advani, Ashutosh Rana

Rating: 2/5

Company%20profile
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From Europe to the Middle East, economic success brings wealth - and lifestyle diseases

A rise in obesity figures and the need for more public spending is a familiar trend in the developing world as western lifestyles are adopted.

One in five deaths around the world is now caused by bad diet, with obesity the fastest growing global risk. A high body mass index is also the top cause of metabolic diseases relating to death and disability in Kuwait,  Qatar and Oman – and second on the list in Bahrain.

In Britain, heart disease, lung cancer and Alzheimer’s remain among the leading causes of death, and people there are spending more time suffering from health problems.

The UK is expected to spend $421.4 billion on healthcare by 2040, up from $239.3 billion in 2014.

And development assistance for health is talking about the financial aid given to governments to support social, environmental development of developing countries.

 

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The specs

Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo

Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm

Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm

Transmission: 9-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km

On sale: Now

Price: From Dh117,059

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The years Ramadan fell in May

1987

1954

1921

1888

Specs

Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request

Company profile

Date started: 2015

Founder: John Tsioris and Ioanna Angelidaki

Based: Dubai

Sector: Online grocery delivery

Staff: 200

Funding: Undisclosed, but investors include the Jabbar Internet Group and Venture Friends

The specs

Engine: 2.3-litre, turbo four-cylinder

Transmission: 10-speed auto

Power: 300hp

Torque: 420Nm

Price: Dh189,900

On sale: now

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COMPANY PROFILE

Name: Lamsa

Founder: Badr Ward

Launched: 2014

Employees: 60

Based: Abu Dhabi

Sector: EdTech

Funding to date: $15 million

Evacuations to France hit by controversy
  • Over 500 Gazans have been evacuated to France since November 2023
  • Evacuations were paused after a student already in France posted anti-Semitic content and was subsequently expelled to Qatar
  • The Foreign Ministry launched a review to determine how authorities failed to detect the posts before her entry
  • Artists and researchers fall under a programme called Pause that began in 2017
  • It has benefited more than 700 people from 44 countries, including Syria, Turkey, Iran, and Sudan
  • Since the start of the Gaza war, it has also included 45 Gazan beneficiaries
  • Unlike students, they are allowed to bring their families to France
THE POPE'S ITINERARY

Sunday, February 3, 2019 - Rome to Abu Dhabi
1pm: departure by plane from Rome / Fiumicino to Abu Dhabi
10pm: arrival at Abu Dhabi Presidential Airport


Monday, February 4
12pm: welcome ceremony at the main entrance of the Presidential Palace
12.20pm: visit Abu Dhabi Crown Prince at Presidential Palace
5pm: private meeting with Muslim Council of Elders at Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque
6.10pm: Inter-religious in the Founder's Memorial


Tuesday, February 5 - Abu Dhabi to Rome
9.15am: private visit to undisclosed cathedral
10.30am: public mass at Zayed Sports City – with a homily by Pope Francis
12.40pm: farewell at Abu Dhabi Presidential Airport
1pm: departure by plane to Rome
5pm: arrival at the Rome / Ciampino International Airport

MATCH INFO

Uefa Champions League quarter-final second leg:

Juventus 1 Ajax 2

Ajax advance 3-2 on aggregate

Updated: January 24, 2025, 11:22 PM`