Jerusalem Post’s web edition published an article last Monday, accusing Norway’s minister of finance Kristin Halvorsen of shouting “Death to the Jews” during an Oslo protest against Israel’s Gaza war in January.
The article has been “depublished” and altered twice since, resulting in a slightly more balanced version – although not much. The original text has been preserved in this (otherwisely highly dubious) blog, whence I’ve extracted a few excerpts:
[...] During the war, Olso [Sic!] was fraught with violent anti-Israel demonstrations. Numerous government officials decried Israel’s actions in Gaza – including Minister of Finance Kristin Halvorsen, who led a march shouting, “Death to the Jews!” Norwegian doctor Mads Gilbert, who worked in Gaza and disseminated stories about Israel’s brutality, became a national hero in the Norwegian media. Even before the war began, local Jews were tense because of anti-Semitic cartoons, recent boycotts of Israeli merchandise, and the highly publicized affair of Norwegian comic Otto Jespersen, who made anti-Semitic remarks on national television.
[…]
Rabbi Yoav Melchior, considered the leading rabbi of Norway, said he had been “very scared during the war.”
“Hatred spread in a fast, dangerous way. This was blind emotionalism against Israel and against Jews. It gets deep at the heart of Norway’s emotional anti-Semitism. The current wave of anti-Semitism shows what people have been holding inside them,” he said.
Norwegian minister of finance and Socialist left party leader Kristin Halvorsen. Photographer: Rune Kongsro/Socialist left party
I was more than just a little surprised to learn that any member of our cabinet partook in such demonstrations, let alone a central figure, such as our minister of finance. Since other protesters participated for a number of various reasons, let’s face it; some were Muslim extremists with ulterior motives, such as the Jews’ and Judaism’s demise, Ms Halvorsen must have known it could come to this.
Granted we were all deeply shocked and appalled by Israel’s conduct during its Gaza campaign, including this blogger:
- Israel: A call for intervention – 4 January 2009
- Is Sameh still alive? – 6 January 2009
- Israeli Endlösung to succeed? – 7 January 2009
- Terrorism not terrorism when institutionalised? – 8 January 2009
Which may well, alongside the torrents of other Norwegian reactions, have contributed to the Jerusalem Post’s impression, but let’s be clear on one point: It’s nothing to do with anti-Semitism. Or, as I put it in a later post:
[...] we’d be ill advised to draw civilian Israelis or Jews into this. Let’s put the blame where it belongs: On Israeli authorities.
That’s not anti-Semitism, is it?
The Norwegian media and public see the Jerusalem Post’s articles as an attempt at waging some sort of propaganda war on Norway, but I suspect it’s all to do with something far more simple, less dramatic: An editor’s urge to boost reader/traffic figures. We see it happen up here, too, on a daily basis. Which is not to say that the Israeli’s disappointment is hard to understand.
It could easily be explained by Norway’s pro Israel traditions. Sudden criticism from a long-time friend may be hard to take. It certainly explains most Norwegians’ disappointment in, and reactions to, Israel’s warfare methods.
I do however regret to inform that widespread Norwegian antagonism has flourished over the last couple of months, but it has been directed at Muslims and Islam, not Israelis, Judaism or Jews.
A press release issued by the Socialist Left party yesteday, states that:
Kristin Halvorsen participated in a demonstration for peace in Gaza on January 8th this year. There were no anti-Jewish slogans during the event what so ever, as The Jerusalem Post alleges.
There were appeals for inter-religious coexistence and peace, calling on Israel to stop the war on Gaza. The demonstration lasted for about an hour, and was a dignified and peaceful event.
A splinter-group continued a march towards the Israeli embassy afterwards. This was not a part of the official demonstration, and Kristin Halvorsen did not join this rally. She publicly denounced the violent outbreak that occurred in the aftermath of the peace demonstration.
Anyway, here are a few scenes from one of the demonstrations in question:
Read more about it all in Dagbladet.no and VG Nett (both in Norwegian).
Also see Mondoweiss’ take on the story.
Photo: Screendump of original Jerusalem Post article accusing Norway’s minister of finance of hatred towards Israel and the Jews.
Weelll… you can’t really pick your demonstrations. I participated in a huge demo with 35.000+ protesters, which of course turned violent after the main event. The guys behind me were calling for jihad and allahu akhbar and the guys in front of me were singing “Give Peace A Chance”. Broad coalitions are necessary, and even though some of the people supporting our causes are unsavoury, we still have to have a broad coalition.
I understand — and acknowledge — your sentiment, Martin, but fear that personally I’d find it hard, probably impossible, even, to join a crowd which included extremists — on either side.
It reminds me of the Norwegian feminists’ and far right racists’ joint charge at Islam, Muslims and Muslim traditions, which they attack for hugely different reasons, even though the latter make use of feminist discourse, in an attempt at earning public sympathy for their cause.
A sympathy they may already have, by the way — for all the wrong reasons.
This is a classic dilemma for the left. The anti-globalisation, anti-fascism, pacifist, secularist and anti-Iraq war movements have all had trouble with extremist elements. I guess you just pick your battles and hope as many people as possible show up. If there’s trouble in the ranks, you have to have a strong core organisation to correct it.
Must be awfully frustrating, though, constantly fending off wrongful allegations, as obviously was the case here (unless it was on purpose, as can be expected).
(sorry for the bad English)
Whats wrong with some of the Israeli peoples? Everytime somone say anything that they don`t like, they go CRAYZY! They shout out anti-Semitism in every opportunety. The Norwegian people, (and mostly the rest of the “western world”) do not hate jews, in fact, most people have nothing against them. They are people like the rest of us. Who the fuck cares!? Muslim, jews, Christian? We are all people for god sakes.
Today, Israel would never have eksisted, but it do. UN have to send troops into palestina and isreal to stop the pointless mess. Force the stettlers back to israeli ground, and give some more land to palestina. Then the UN must agree that Palestina is a country, just like Norway have for a long time ago.
Israeli politic is the big problem, and even Jews living in Israel hate their own politic against the arabs in the area. They are a MUCH stronger nation military, than all the nation around the combined. Thanks to support from the “western world”. It will never be peace when the palestinian people is living in “prison/hell”.
Its hard to belive that the jews ar given the area by God, when it don`t eksist a God.
Its hard to belive that Allah told them to kill all jews, when Allah don`t eksist.
There’s always the possibility that someone’s giving a go at ruining Norway’s reputation and credibility in these matters, Jens Jensen, but I still think it’s all a result of journalistic sensationalism.
Either that, or extremely sloppy research, of course (but it’d have to be sloppy beyond belief for such an “accident” to take place).
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