This week, representatives from Caritas Norway's partner organizations have been invited to join us in Oslo. Not everyone can come, one chair is empty.

The empty chair belongs to Caritas Jerusalem. They do not choose to refrain from traveling to Norway because they are unable to get here. It's the journey home they're worried about. That they will not be allowed back in, and thus be prevented from continuing their important work, both in Gaza and on the West Bank.

Caritas Jerusalem is led and run by Palestinians. In other words, it is their own homeland that they fear being denied entry to. This may seem absurd, but in light of the situation on the ground in the West Bank, it is not an entirely incomprehensible issue. The freedom of movement of employees in Caritas Jerusalem varies considerably, even in peacetime. In principle, those with an Israeli passport have the right to move freely, both in Israel and in the occupied territories. Those who lack citizenship but have a permanent settlement certificate in Jerusalem also have great freedom of movement, but lose this if they settle elsewhere in the country. Palestinians who have neither are restricted to the West Bank, to the extent that they can get past the many guard posts that divide up the territory.

A disaster waiting to happen

When I visited Israel and Palestine in June, I received a clear message from our two partners in the region, Caritas Jerusalem and CRS ( Caritas USA) The situation in Gaza is catastrophic, but the world must not forget the West Bank. The situation there was critical at the time. Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians were deprived of their livelihoods. The many who had jobs in Israel were no longer allowed to travel there, and those who had government jobs were not paid because the Israeli authorities had frozen the Palestinian Authority's tax revenues.

How can pushing an entire population further and further to the edge of the cliff bring peace and stability? There are many indications that the armed groups in the West Bank are being strengthened, rather than weakened, as a result of this policy.

The time for warning is over. The situation in the West Bank is now as bad as many feared. Violence has escalated, with major Israeli military operations, as well as attacks by armed groups against Israeli targets in the West Bank. the West Bank and in Israel. The number of Palestinians who have been arrested is approaching ten thousand. Many of them are awaiting trial in vain, and their families do not know what they have been charged with or what will happen to them. The number of people killed has also increased drastically. More than six hundred six hundred Palestinians and 25 Israelis have lost their lives as a result of the conflict in the West Bank between October 7, 2023 and August 26, 2024, according to the UN. The border with Jordan is closed.

On top of the difficulties Palestinians in the West Bank have been struggling with for the past year or so, many new ones have been added. Some areas have lost access to water and electricity. Several children have also been killed. As a result, many Palestinian parents are afraid to let their sons and daughters go to school.

It's not just the Israeli forces that cause fear. Extreme settlers have become increasingly aggressive. They vandalize Palestinian farms, occupy homes and are responsible for several of the murders of Palestinians. The Palestinian police cannot stop them, the Israeli forces do not.

Norwegian diplomats are banned - we're still there

During my visit this summer, I had the pleasure of meeting the skilled diplomats at Norway's representative office in Palestine. I wouldn't be able to do that today, as the Netanyahu government has effectively expelled the Norwegian diplomats in Palestine. This is, of course, very unfortunate from a Palestinian perspective and for those of us who believe in diplomatic solutions.

However, this should not prevent us from continuing our efforts to make life in the West Bank bearable. Caritas is still very much present on the ground, as are several other organizations. There is a growing need for common goods and services, which are no longer as accessible in the current situation.

These needs must be met. However, it is also necessary to continue the more long-term projects, such as ensuring that agricultural land is kept in operation so that the properties cannot be expropriated.

Caritas Jerusalem can't come to Oslo, but they are present in the West Bank. And they need our help.