FINLAND & PALESTINE Proceedings of a Joint Workshop

Palestine in Finnish Media
What also interests the Finnish audience, a small nation, are
stories which have some kind of Finnish element. Although
most of the Finnish-linked stories are reports on development
aid projects where Finland is the donor and Palestinians are
the receivers, they are still positive stories.
My favourite of these is the EUCopps story, where Finland, via
the EU, is sponsoring and training the Palestinian police. I particularly
liked the part where they were training to maintain
public order by running in formation with their riot gear - this is
good lV, lots of action! However, this is an important story
because it shows the Finnish audience where their tax money
is going and what the Palestinians are trying to do to fill their
obligations in the Road Map, e.g., take control of security in
the West Bank.
But sometimes the Finnish-Palestinian connection comes
where you least expect.
A few months ago I was in Gaza and went to the old, recently
renovated hammam. After enjoying the heat and making a
move towards the door, I was surrounded by little girls aged 10
to 12. They asked me where I was from. When I replied
'Finland', one of the girls nodded and said that a relative of hers
lived in Finland. I doubted it because often little children and
older men and women have no clue what or where Finland is.
They often think that I'm talking about a much fancier place,
london.
But this girl then said. "Yes, my uncle works in Finland as our
ambassador, Uncle Nabil [AI-Wazir]."
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