The Jewish community released its own survey on how Jewish children experience anti-Semitism in Norway. This survey comes only a week after the Holocaust center released its national survey on anti-Semitism in Norway. The Minister of Education and Knowledge, Kristin Halvorsen (do I really have to put up that picture of her joining the anti-Semitic mob during the anti-Jewish riots in Oslo in 2009 again?) has reacted strongly to these findings, please see below for a translation of an article in Vårt Land today:
Aftenposten 2012 06 06, Knut Olav Åmås
Summary.
A long, well written and well researched op-ed on contemporary anti-Semitism in Norway, based on a survey released by the Mosaic Congregation in Oslo on yesterday.
Quotes:
“Jews in Norway. Intense, biased criticism of Israel’s policies makes life much more difficult and dangerous to the small Jewish minority in Norway”.
“Many dislike realizing the blurred boundaries between anti-Semitism and criticism of Israel”.
“There is still ongoing extensive trivializing, relativisation and explaining away of anti-Semitism in Norway. This is in particular in the left wing, where Palestine activism is a symbol heavy cause, having zero space for nuances and no ability to see the Middle East having two parties”.
THE STORIES OF YOUNG JEWS ARE REVOLTING
Vårt Land 2012 056 06 p 4, 5
Sigbjørn Kiserud
Summary.
On a survey presented by the Mosaic Congregation in Oslo, over being a Jewish child or young person in Norway.
The stories presented, on present day anti-Semitism, are indeed revolting, being about physical violence and apathy and willful ignorance among teaching staff towards harassment taking place in schools, directed at Jews. Numbers of episodes are referred to.
“YOU OUGHT TO HAVE BURNED IN AUSCHWITZ”.
Verdens Gang 2012 06 06 p 3
Astrid Meland. Not Online
Summary.
Op-ed on anti-Semitism, pointing to the genuinely large scale this has in Norwegian community.
HATRED OF JEWS OUTSPREAD AND ON THE INCREASE
Aftenposten 2012 06 06 p 10
Cato Guhnfeldt, Not Online
Summary.
On the recent survey by the Mosaic Community, on anti-Semitism in Norway.
Quote:
“A majority of those asked holds the opinion anti-Semitism has been on the increase in the last decade. 94 percent points to media coverage of the Middle East conflict as an important or somewhat important factor. 77 percent see Israeli policies as a cause, while 37 percent answered to other relations in Norway. No less than 95 percent responded to media presentation of Israel either often or sometimes biased in a negative direction”.
this interview has been lifted from Vårt Land
Halvorsen warns teachers to act against Jew hatred
This is totally unacceptable, the Minister says of report that shows crude harassment of Jewish youths.
Published: 7 hours ago Sigbjørn Kiserud sigbjorn.kiserud @ vl.no
Kristin Halvorsen is very clear after reading about the report in Vårt Land yesterday.
The report, The reality for Jewish Children and Adolescents in Norway, revealed that many Jewish teenagers have experienced raw harassment. Several of the respondents also reported that teachers would downplay incidents.
- It’s both gross and shocking that this is not taken seriously. Especially when there have been serious transgressions without adults taking action, Halvorsen says.
Now the Minster warns that the situation needs to be cleaned up.- I think many have a unreflecting attitude to this. Therefore we must take advantage of these occasions to raise awareness about the problem.
More precisely, the Minister wants schools with Jewish pupils to monitor the situation carefully.
- All schools that have students of Jewish background, must at their earliest opportunity check if any of their students have experienced similar situations. The schools must be clear that this is completely unacceptable and apply a zero tolerance policy.
Improved teaching.
At the same time, the Ministry of Education is developing an educational tool, which would make it easier for schools to talk about anti-Semitism.
- The project is out to tender now. This initiative will enable teachers to apply good standards to this education make it possible for teachers to make good arrangements for teaching.
- Some students have said they are accused partiality of or experience harassment after learning about the Middle East conflict at school.
Is the content of the education unbalanced?
- In this circumstance, a very clear distinction between that which may be criticism of Israel, and that which is harassment and anti-Semitism. No child in Norway should have to take responsibility for what Israel does, Halvorsen states.
