Growing Anti Semitism In Norway

From: Jerusalem Post

Casual observers of the Middle East are no doubt aware of the deeply anti-Semitic and anti- Zionist attitudes in the leadership of the Muslim Brotherhood, Hamas, Hezbollah and Iran. These groups make little attempt to conceal their desire for a world without Israel, and care not whether this goal is achieved through the so-called “right of return” which would grant millions of Palestinians the “right” to live in Israel, or through the liquidation of the “Zionist entity.” Any rational observer knows these actions would end Israel as the state of the Jewish people.

Nor do these groups devote much attention to distinguishing whether this aim should be achieved through violent jihad or by the expulsion of Israelis.

They often insist a peaceful and just solution can be achieved only if Jews return to their previous homes in the former Soviet Union, Morocco, Iraq or Germany.

The ubiquitous demand for the “liberation of Palestine” is understood by any rational observer to be an appeal not solely for the liberation of the West Bank but a euphemism for the destruction of Israel. In the end, they want Israel not to exist – to be destroyed, and care little how it happens.

However, a new and not-so-subtle threat has emerged from one of the more peaceful places on earth – Scandinavia. Norway has never posed a direct threat to Israel nor has it advocated Israel’s liquidation.

However, many in its government, and some large businesses, have recently displayed a pattern of strong anti-Israel and often anti-Semitic attitudes which would make Islamist radicals very proud.

Why would a very tolerant, progressive and democratic government espouse such prejudicial views? Why is this significant for Jews and all persons of conscience? Western nations are typically categorized as advocates of liberty, democracy, human rights and tolerance.

The Kingdom of Norway is no exception and prides itself as a universal champion of these noble values.

For instance, in December 2010, the Norwegian government released a 12-page brochure affirming that “The protection of human rights is one of the main pillars of Norwegian foreign policy, and providing support for human rights defenders is a central part of these efforts.”

Therefore, it would be incumbent upon Norway to practice what it preaches. However, Oslo’s recent behavior reveals a proclivity toward singling out Israel among all other nations for international opprobrium.

Norwegian leaders and officials attempt to justify their anti-Israel actions based on the narrative that Israel occupies Palestinian land. They typically avoid specifically targeting Jews, for fear of being labeled anti-Semitic, but their actions nonetheless exhibit traits of “genteel anti-Semitism.”

Norway once played an instrumental and nonpartisan role, during the Oslo Peace Accords in the 1990s.

Then-prime minister Yitzhak Rabin and Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat made compromises and offered mutual recognition. Arafat renounced terrorism.

Norway’s position has since dramatically changed.

In January 2006, Socialist politician Kristin Halvorsen proposed a boycott of Israeli products, while insisting that her views did not reflect the government. Oslo may have distanced itself from Halvorsen’s controversial remarks, but it has refused to follow the United States and European Union’s classification of Hamas as a designated terrorist organization.

“We condemn organizations that are involved in terrorism,” said Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre, “but Norway has considered the situation as such that having lists where we put an organization and call it a terrorist organization will not serve our purposes.”

Støre has also insisted that Israel dismantle its security wall built in response to the wave of suicide bombings from the West Bank.

Norwegian Universities Discourage Pro-Israel Views, Speakers

From: Commentary Magazine

Alan Dershowitz writes a troubling account of his recent visit to Norway. Norwegian universities have recently welcomed speakers like Stephen Walt and Ilan Pappe to address the Israel-Palestinian conflict. But when Dershowitz offered to speak about Israel free of charge, all of the major schools apparently declined, saying that the subject was too controversial.

Further, the university libraries reportedly turned down free copies of a Norwegian translation of Dershowitz’s most well-known book, The Case for Israel.

Dershowitz did end up speaking at several universities, after being invited by student groups. But he writes that his speeches sparked a faculty boycott: