FM Støre, or as we call him here, Teflon-Støre, now has found himself in a bit of a pickle; In 2008, the Foreign Ministry awarded NOK 6 million for a development project in the High North, ostensibly initiated by the Norwegian Shipowners Association, but in reality a project where his close friend was CEO...
Norway, Israel and the Jews
- Happy 17th of MayOnce more, we gather under our flag to celebrate our freedom. Each 17th of May, the Jewish community in Oslo organize a formal and serene commemoration of Henrik Wergeland, the son of one of the member of the Constituent Assembly for our Constitution. In its original version, our Constitution was shamed by the exclusion of Jews and Jesuits in Norway, som […]
- “Minister of justice” to Jews in Oslo: too badThe synagogue in Oslo – already one of the most fortified structures in Norway – applied to the government for additional funds to secure its congregation. They asked for NOK 21 million but got NOK 7 million. After all the speeches Støre and Stoltenberg with no end to the flowery assurances, this is what it comes down to: Jews should be content feeling prett […]
- The Jewish Community in Oslo applied for NOK 21 million for security measures, only got NOK 7,2lifted from Vårt Land Synagogues receive NOK 7.2 million for security The money goes towards securing doors, upgrade the monitoring system and setting up a security fence. The Government proposes in the revised national budget to allocate 7.2 million forsecurity at the Jewish Religious Community (DMT). - No one should have to be afraid to exercise their rel […]
- Letter from a 17-year old Jewish boyAftenposten today published an op-ed from “Daniel,” a 17-year old Norwegian student who happens to be Jewish. He feels surrounded by antisemitic attitudes, ranging from comments by a fellow video game player (“just pretend they’re Jews when you aim at them”), to the inevitable “so you support killing babies?” when he mentions he supports Israel, to the inabi […]
- PalCom action ‘small and unsuccessful’lifted from miff.no Palestine Committee’s action was “small and unsuccessful” Only a small number of provocateurs from Palestine Committee participated in a store action against Israel’s Dead Sea products in Oslo last Tuesday (May 16) evening. The police were notified in advance and got them quickly away from the place. By Conrad Myrland Published: 16/05/201 […]
- VG’s Astrid Meland attacks Pal activists and media for unethical focus on IsraelAstrid Meland published an OpEd in VG on May 14, which currently is not online. MIFF has published a review article online, from where I have lifted the following: Astrid Meland believes Israel’s critics in Norway are victim of a collective neurosis, where you turn a blind eye to much worse breaches of human rights by other states. - Unethical focus on Isra […]
- Stand up, stand up – for the Hebrew MamitaIf I were a man, I would seriously consider inviting this lady out for dinner. Since I am not, I can only say – WAY TO GO, SISTER! linkscolor = "000000"; highlightscolor = "888888"; backgroundcolor = "FFFFFF"; channel = "none"; […]
- Oopsie – Norwegian academia has become synonymous with academic anti-Semitismlifted from ynetnews.com This is the cost of allowing a guy like Galtung to roam free – regardless of round rejection of his recent remarks, this was by no means the first time the ‘mad professor’ let it rip, as is evident by the details of this op-ed. Why did not the Norwegian intelligentia react at an earlier stage? Did they perhaps agree with the previous […]
- Gloves are off: MIFF (With Israel for Peace) reports the PalCom to the policeLifted from miff.no What can I say? Bravo! MIFF is doing an incredibly important job and luckily their hard efforts are rewarded with a healthy growth in their memberships. Maybe readers of this blog could be entreated to find a way of supporting MIFF? By the way, I have no relation to MIFF, personally or professionally – this is just a courtesy call to reco […]
- What Karsten Tveit’s award really signifiesOdd Karsten Tveit wins the Gullruten lifetime award for his propaganda news coverage from the Middle East. When it comes to correspondents in the Middle East sent by NRK (the governmental broadcasting organization financed by a surcharge on owning a television), it’s a bit like watching the Eurovision song contest: you can endlessly discuss who is worse. Bu […]
Parliament
A bad week for Norway’s reputation
It started with the broadside from the Guardian, where the writer tore into Norway’s carefully crafted image as a goodie two shoe; Four years ago, it promised to act as a “peace nation” to support a “more democratic world order” and human rights. Yet socialist-led Norway – still living on its benign image abroad –...
Conservatives: Abbas should not provoke a veto
As the UNGA draws close, Parliamentary opposition parties warn Abbas to not go ahead with UNSC bid, but also signaling to Støre to not contribute to a situation that may create more problems than it aims to solve. VG has this story: Conservatives: Abbas should not provoke a veto Ine Eriksen Søreide (Cons) warns Palestinians not to go straight to the UN...
Maariv picked up story on Norwegian childrens book that casts Israelis as evil
A few days back, we wrote a story on a children’s book that casts Israelis as cruel. This story has now been picked up by the Hebrew language daily Maariv. Book in Norway: IDF deprives Palestinians of water The plot has a child and her father coming out to help the Palestinians deprived of water by IDF soldiers. Foreign Ministry official: ”superpower against the de-legitimization of...
Secret diaries from Oslo – constraints on Norways ME role
lifted from wikileaks. Please note that later cables have revealed that the relationship between Norway and Israel has improved, so any heated comments that Israel should sever its relationship with Norway, full stop would not accurately fit the bill as things currently stand. 1. (C) Summary: Norway aspires to be a leader in Middle...
secret diaries from Oslo – on rising anti-Semitism
lifted in full from wikileaks 1. (C) Summary: Anti-Semitism in Norway, and the expression of anti-Semitic comments, has increased since the Gaza war. The small Norwegian Jewish community is wary of being targeted, and "Jew" has become more popular as an epithet. While the issue of anti-Semitism is frequently debated in the media, Norwegians...
“International Law Experts” with egg on their faces: Gaza blockade legal
Now that we have the ruling from the UN on the matter, could we please ask the following persons, or organizations to retract their statements or amend their entries so that they reflect reality: SV: Gaza blockade is illegal The International Red Cross Committee: Gaza blockade breaches international Law Professor Geir Ulfstein at the...
Palcom plans event at Oslo Literature house on August 30 – MP Solhjell is invited, but no Israeli representative
Palcom plans a public meeting to debate recognition of a Palestinian state. Again, the venue chosen is the Literature house, which over the years seems to have become a fixture for anti-Israeli events. The list of invited speakers include Peter M Johansen, journalist from Klassekampen. Bård Vegar Solhjell, member of Parliament (for Socialistic Left)...
VGs editorial on situation in Syria
THE TRAGEDY OF SYRIA Verdens Gang 2011 08 14 Editorial Not Online According to Syrian activists more than 1600 people have been killed since unrest and demonstrations against the regime broke out in the middle of March. The dictator, Bashar al Assad, do not seem to be yielding an inch, while insurgents do not...
Norwegian politics and the democratic outlook? Blood is thicker than water.
Norway routinely – and rightly! – scores high on surveys regarding living standards, transparency, standards of governance, and so on. But judging by an article in Vårt Land, we are approaching a greying area, where figures of power start to share beds, lives, families. This very interesting article outlines the apparent degradation of the...
Støre replies to question from Progressives concerning Israel and Syria
Norway is a perfectly normal democracy in which the opposition gets to post critical questions to government. Sometimes, the media even picks up on them. Norway FM Jonas Gahr Støre has now replied to a question from member of the Storting Torkil Åmland (Progressives). In brief, it’s “no”. A REPLY TO A QUESTION CONCERNING...
Another under-employed MP who is wasting public money on Gaza holiday
Aksel Hagen is a Member of Parliament representing our dear friends SV, that midget party that sold its soul to get into position of power, making Nick Clegg look steadfast and a man of principle in comparison. Our friend Aksel got into an elected position thanks to the particular system of equalization seat mandate,...
Støre replies to question on the situation in the Middle East
The opposition keeps demanding straight answers from FM Støre on the situation in the Middle East. Støre has now replied to a question posed by parliamentarian Hans Olav Syversen (Christian Peoples’ Party). Notice that Støre, while not willing to call Hamas a terrorist organization, does acknowledge that Hamas has carried out terrorist acts and...
Tove-Lise Torve
Without a doubt, Tove-Lise Torve is an accomplished woman. She finished high school, has started several college programs in nursing and completed an internet program in municipal economics and organizational psychology. She was elected to this session of the Norwegian Parliament as number three on the Labour Party’s list from Møre og Romsdal (population:...
Daniel Viflic z”l – The town of Hamar pays for flotilla, while Intl. Red Cross says no humanitarian crisis in Gaza
Sadly, Daniel Viflic’s life was cut brutally short. By a heat seeking missile from Gaza. Before him, the entire Fogel family was murdered, and before them hundreds, thousands have had their lives cut short, leaving families truncated, devastated by their losses. Another man also had his life prematurely and cruelly cut short. Vittiorio Arrigoni,...
Støre responds to parliament question on Goldstone report
Støre replies to a question raised by Hans Olav Syversen of the Christian People’s Party. From the Parliament’s own website: A response to the question of the Goldstone report. MFA of Norway 2011 04 13 Jonas Gahr Støre Response to a question raised by Hans Olav Syversen of the CPP. Richard Goldstone’s article in...
Norway has been found out again – this time in Spanish
Oh, dearie me, Norwegian stocks are taking a beating lately. After having surfed the waves, playing the big pretender, it seems the party is over. After having been lambasted for the Dershowitz fracas, the impossibility that a man like Trond Andresen can teach at a University after publicly displaying his intolerance of others, the...
Goldstone recant: Progressives question FM
Norway has based much of its criticism of Israel on the so called Goldstone report. Now that the report no longer has the backing of its main author, Richard Goldstone, the opposition is asking the foreign minister how this will affect Norway’s policies versus Israel. Peter N. Myhre (Progressive Party) has posed the following...
Christian Democrats question FM on Goldstone recant
Richard Goldstone has recanted and no longer stands by his report on the Gaza conflict. Should Norway remain supportive of this document, now that its creator has admitted it is erroneous? Dagfinn Høybråten (Christian Democrats) disagrees. Høybråten has posed the following question, to be anwered by Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre. The President of...
Once again, we get the front pages
Ynet.com has picked up on the foul smell coming out of Norway these days. Lets do some simple math, how many people around the world will read todays Aftenposten, or even Vårt Land where Bård Vegard Solhjell tries to wiggle out of ugly racist proposal? A few thousand Norwegians? At most. How many people...