It is not only in the Netherlands that prominent people question the failure to apologize to the Jews for deportations and persecution. The former leader of the Jewish Congregation in Oslo, Rolf Kirchner has written an oped (, not online; in translation, to upload soonest) on the matter, but prominent Norwegians such as poet...
Norway, Israel and the Jews
- The Norwegian Government’s hypocrisy re-exposed: “the most evil company in the world” is the second largest share holder in “Norsk Hydro”The Norwegian Government’s hypocrisy re-exposed: “the most evil company in the world” is the second largest share holder in “Norsk Hydro” Brazilian Vale, which Norwegian Hydro has a tight partnership with, only accepts the bare minimum of social responsibility, according to a new poll where Greenpeace ranked the Norwegian Hydro partner as the “the world’s mo […]
- VG’s Hanne Skartveit: the great betrayalLifted from VG. Applause to Skartveit for this eminent oped The great betrayal Synagogue OSLO (AP) We were unable to protect our Jewish compatriots during the war. And today we are unable to give them the security they need. Do we simply not care? OpEd by Hanne Skartveit In the street where I lived for some years, just outside Washington, DC, we had a neighb […]
- One week after PM’s reassurance that nobody should live in fear in Norway – Justice Minister Grete Faremo to reassess Jewish community’s security needsLifted from Dagbladet, but also mentioned in other media. Faremo to reassess Synagogue security needs – Is in constant contact with police and the Police Security Services. The Minister of Justice Grete Faremo (Labour) is reviewing the safety precautions in place for the Synagogue in Oslo, and is in constant contact with the police and the police and the sec […]
- Rockets over Israel go untoldWhile the Norwegian media rightly now focuses on the ongoing atrocities in Syria, and even our FM has felt compelled to politely tell the naughty Assad regime off for the continuing blood bath, one may perhaps be sympathetic to editors’s decision to not cover news from Israel. However, since coverage of Israel continues to be tendentious and one-eyed, one mu […]
- Norwegian support for Israel at record highLifted from Vårt Land Record Norwegian support to Israel More Norwegians buy Israeli goods, provide financial support and join the pro-Israel organizations. By: Lise Marit Kalstad and Olav Solvang Norway set a new record in the import of goods from Israel in 2011. In the last year Norway purchased Israeli goods for NOK 722 million, the corresponding number f […]
- Norwegian People’s Aid failure to report on SyriaAt a time when the rest of the world are slowly, ever so gradually starting to notice the atrocities that go on in Syria (but also many other places on our beautiful planet), one would have thought that the Norwegian People’s Aid would at least have mentioned the word Syria, somewhere, anywhere, on its web pages. But nope, not a word, yet NRK, who cannot fin […]
- The PMs Holocaust Memorial Day speech in full“Dear all, This year marks 70 years since the “Danube” cast off from this quay, and embarked on a voyage of shame . 532 Jews were brutally stowed on board. Only nine returned. One of them was Samuel Steinmann. He is the last survivor. I’m especially glad you are here with us. Today we remember the millions of innocent people who were wiped out in History’s m […]
- Our deepest regret this could happen on Norwegian soilFinally, the first real step towards acknowledging our own role in the tragedy. Only after accepting responsibility, can the hard work of forgiveness and the arduous task of reconstructing relations begin. Lifted from Aftenposten (by Elisabeth Rodum and Halvor Hegtun) PM Jens Stoltenberg (Labour) deeply regretted the deportation of Norwegian Jews at the Holo […]
- Holocaust commemoration ceremony today at 1500 hrs in OsloLifted from Dagen.no, but also covered most other news outlets. For more details on the event itself, you can go to http://www.holocaustdagen.no/ Thinks Jens will apologize to the Jews Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg is expected to come up with a form of apology to the Norwegian Jews during the International Holocaust Remembrance Day today. Bjørn Arild Hatle […]
- Mixed signals from Norway as Holocaust commemoration ceremony is expected to bring a much awaited formal apology from Norway to its Jewish communityToday, at 3 PM, our PM Jens Stoltenberg is widely expected to officially and formally apologize to the Norwegian Jewish community for the state sponsored persecution and murder of Norwegian citizens with a Jewish background during the WWII. Whatever form that eventual apology finally would be presented as, does not detract from the perception that Norway con […]
European politics
Syrian victims of state terror won’t be using their Ericsson phones any time soon
It is not only Norway that behaves abysmally in the face of the escalating conflict in Syria. Sweden too, tries to sell an image of supreme righteousness, touts their neutrality, but in reality they are just as two faced as they were in 1940, letting their prejudices and commercial interests come before the needs...
Nordic Foreign Ministers blast Israel, not Hamas, not Hizballah, not even Iran who threatens to attack Israel with WMD
Thanks to Tundratabloids who drew my attention to this story: Joint statement by all 5 Nordic FM’s on Norway’s Foreign Ministry’s web page. It makes my hair stand on end. Nordic countries concerned about measures against Palestinians You are here: Government.no / Ministry of Foreign Affairs / Press centre / News / Nordic countries concerned about measures against Palestinians...
The European gut reaction in difficult times: curtail the rights of others
It is not only in Norway that mass immigration from very distinct cultures and sets of values over a short period of time triggers a strong reaction from the native population. All over Europe, it seems the gut reaction is to impose rigid top down regulations, curtailing minority rights that the majority find difficult...
Erna Solberg says Muslims are treated like the Jews in the 1930s
The leader of Høyre, Erna Solberg has said in an interview with VG that Muslims in todays Norway are being treated like the Norwegian Jews were treated in the 1930s. To be very fair (and this is of fundamental importance in todays Norway), she has underlined that Muslims today are not subject to the...
This unbearable pain – and the work we all have a duty to do
We are so terribly pained, we Norwegians. We cannot bring ourselves to believe this horror that took place. It was unimaginable. And it shook us out of the innocent belief that this could not take place here. What kind of beast could place a bomb in the heart of Oslo at a time when...
Un dolor insoportable… y el trabajo que todos debemos hacer
Estamos muy doloridos, nosotros los Noruegos. No lo podemos creer, el horror que paso. Fue algo inimaginable. Y nos saco de la inocencia de que aca no pasa nada. Que tipo de bestia puede poner una bomba en pleno centro de Oslo, en la hora cuando la gente sale de sus trabajos, para volver...
…. and now the tiny group of Norwegian Gaza flotilla participants calls it a day and bites the dust!
No sooner did NIJ write about how loud moaning about sabotage, bureaucracy, failure to get the final certificates to set sail for Gaza in reality may be a poorly disguised attempt to not look utterly incapable and stupid when the organizers of the flotilla must call it off, then VG brings us the story...
Free Gilad Shalit! But don’t wait for Amnesty International to front any action
It seems like a poor joke, but it has taken the Amnesty International all of 5 years to address this ongoing crime against humanity in any serious way. Today, making the 5th anniversary since his capture, the General Secretary of AI in Israel, Rachel Benziman said: “We hope that Gilad soon returns to his...
Norwegian politicians mum, Cameron takes a stand.
Aside from the polite protest from Norwegian politicians in the wake of Libyan massacre, no public person of interest here in Norway has stood up to call the bluff of some Arab leaders who will use the Palestinian cause in order to cover up for their own crimes at home. Hence, it is refreshing...
What’s this? Gadaffi bombs his own people, the UN, EU must be dragged into action?
If it was not so terribly tragic, I might have had a good laugh. All those politically correct, caught pants down. Sadly, there is no cause for joy, far too many Libyans are dead, mowed down in this weeks latest show of evil, or at other times, such as for instance the 1200 inmates...
Not in Norwegian news: Human Rights Watch calls for cuts in funding… of PA
In an unprecedented press statement the HRW faults the PA for not dealing with cases of torture. As we frequently aim our guns at the HRW’s very selective approach towards the ME conflict, I would just want to applaud this rare display of impartiality, of seriously investigating and condemning serious breaches of human, civic...
While we wait for Godot – enjoy this radio podcast from the BBC
While we await the outcome – short term as well as long term – of the ongoing drama in Egypt, you may find it interesting to take 30 minutes to listen to the BBC radio documentary File on 4 Tolerating the Intolerant? Whilst not relating particularly to the unrest in Egypt – nor to...
Al Jazeera and the Norwegian news outfits
As the riots in Egypt reach day 7 and no signs of any of the parts yielding to pressure, media outlets around the world seem to be in the mood for a little fantasy, to stoke the flames of discontent and perhaps up the circulation. Al Jazeera claims that Israel has sent anti-riot gear...
Document.no: From blog to publishing house
Document.no is more than a blog but not quite a movement. Yet. It is finding its feet, though, and has already hosted several very successful seminars with more to come. The latest initiative consists of a piece-meal purchase of the publishing rights to Christopher Caldwell’s Reflections on the revolutions in Europe. Document.no, the plan...
From Oslo to the Louvre – A pattern of cruel stupidity
As noticed previously Norwegian author Eirik Eiglad’s book “The anti-Jewish riots in Oslo” has been met with quite a lot of interest in France, receiving coverage on a score of websites. After watching the clip above, this makes sense. The flags of Hezbollah, the cries of “Death to Jews”, the burning of McDonald’s outlets…...
Foreign Minister Støre co-host meeting on Middle East in Brussels
The announcement above is from the official web-site of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Unauthorized translation: USA’s special envoy to the Middle East, senator George Mitchell and Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre are Tuesday January 12th hosts for a meeting with EU’s high representative for foreign – and security policy Lady Catherine Asthon, Foreign...
The Holocaust and the Baltics
The Baltic countries (Estonia, Lithuania and Latvia) were once part of Sweden and until quite recently had Swedish-speaking minorities. Culturally and historically they are far more attached to the west than their geographic location entails. Sadly it appears that the Baltic countries now are experiencing Holocaust obfuscation and revision. Keep track of events on...
ECI asked to take the lead in securing separate portfolio for anti-Semitism in the new European Commission
Norway is not part of the European Union. Exactly why this is the case there is little consensus, but we can observe that proponents of EU membership live in the densely populated areas of the south-east. Resistence to joining is fierce in the socalled districts, sparsely populated regions distributed throughout the realm. But if...