Norway attacks draw condemnation from pro-Palestinian organizations

[ 23/07/2011 - 05:11 PM ] 

BRUSSELS, (PIC)-- The twin attacks in Oslo that left some 90 dead have drawn strong condemnation by pro-Palestinian organizations on Saturday.

The Labor party youth retreat was a supporter of Palestinian rights and an end to the Israeli siege on the Gaza Strip.

In a statement following Friday's shocking attack, the European campaign to end the siege on Gaza said that ''regardless of the identities of those involved in the attack, the bloodshed and intimidation of innocent people is an act condemnable on the utmost terms''.

The attacks ''could never be justified'' and were a ''violation of humanitarian principles and moral obligations'', the statement says.

The Norwegian Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg, whose headquarters was bombed in downtown Oslo, was hosted on Thursday in the island where the almost simultaneous shooting took place. One of the topics discussed there were issues concerning the Palestinians and ending the siege on the Gaza Strip, the ECESG said, adding that Palestinian flags and anti-siege banners fluttered at the camp.

Norwegian police have arrested and charged a suspect in the attacks. They said he was of Norwegian descent and that the crime was motivated by conservative racial ideologies.

Norway's pro-Palestinian foreign policy had received strong disapproval from Israel and its supporters in the country.

Also among those who condemned the attacks is the Palestinian Non-Governmental Organizations Network, which has 132 member organizations working in different developmental fields.

In a statement, the PNGO network sent condolences to the families of those killed in the attacks and wished speedy recovery for those who were injured.

The PNGO also wished for more ''stability, safety, and prosperity'' for Norway and its people.

91 Killed in Norway Explosion by “Native Christian Fundamentalist”

Local Editor Two explosions took place on Norway youth camp and government headquarters killing at least 91 people, and Norway police said that initial investigations revealed that a “Christian fundamentalist” was behind the attack, but the reasons were not clarified yet. Norway has not witnessed such an attack since decades. However, it’s Premier Jens Stoltenberg said that “the country will emerge stronger from this cruel act of violence”. “Never since the Second World War has our country been hit by a crime on this scale,” Stoltenberg said in a press conference, adding that the coming days will show who is responsible and what kind of punishment they will get.” He said: “The message to whoever attacked us, the message from all of Norway is that you will not destroy us, you will not destroy our democracy and our ideals for a better world." The police said that “the suspect was a 32-year-old Norwegian who had posted anti-Muslim rhetoric online”. Furthermore, local media reports said that “the arrested suspect had links to right-wing extremists and possessed two weapons registered in his name”, and that “he described himself on his Facebook page as Conservative and Christian”. Live witnesses said that “the attacker opened fire at first with an M16 after beckoning youngsters towards him”. Source: AFP 23-07-2011 - 12:01 | 651 View River to Sea Uprooted Palestinian