The Norwegian Centre against anti-Semitism (NIS) is concerned about your discriminating statement on the Jews in Israel on the TV News of 27th April. We noted that you were also asking for information about roads anywhere else in the world that are being reserved for particular groups of people. We have such information and enclose a copy of our quarterly journal NIS-Info no.3-2005, in which you will find pictures from such roads. This journal is regularly sent to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
We would like to point out that in those cases where roads to Jewish settlements are restricted for Arabs, this is as a precaution to prevent further terrorism against the civilian Jews. Such a situation did not arise in the open and democratic society of Israel until the PLO leaders Arafat and Abbas (whom Norway supports economically and politically) came to the area. You may thus to a certain extent correctly claim that this measure deprives persons of their ability to carry out their trade.
On the other hand there exists a continuous discrimination in Islam's holy land, Saudi Arabia, particularly around the cities of Mecca and Medina. This is an apartheid regime that on a permanent political and religious basis prevents the entry and other rights to non-Muslims. For fairness sake and to avoid being perceived as discriminating against the Jews, you should make your party aware that still no Jews are allowed to drive on any road whatsoever in that country. These are conditions on which we strongly feel that both your Government and the Socialist Left Party, as partners to the Peace Process, ought to take an official stand.
The pictures in NIS-Info show road signs outside Mecca stating: "Muslims only Obligatory for non muslims" "No entry for non Moslems" "Muslims only Non Muslims"
We request you to also read the rest of our journal, as this might provide you with some information on Israel and the Peace Process, that we feel that you have not been given by your servicemen or your party secretariat.
