Eide: – Norway is and has always been a friend of the State of Israel

Tuesday got The online newspaper confirmed that Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz will not meet Espen Barth Eide (Ap) during the Norwegian Foreign Minister’s upcoming visit to the region.

David Mencer, who is press manager for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, tells Wednesday TV 2 that Eide is unwanted.

– I have registered that Norway’s foreign minister wants to visit Israel, and to that I just have to say that he is not welcome. Norway is one of the countries which, in the middle of this war following the massacre on 7 October, has found it too good to wrongly recognize a Palestinian state, says Mencer.

There is no restraining order

Maiken Bruusgaard Harbitz, senior communications adviser in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOD), tells NTB that Eide wants to travel to Israel to hear their perspectives and explain Norwegian positions.

– He himself had a dialogue with Katz regarding such a meeting during the NATO meeting and felt that there was a desire for dialogue. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs notes that such a meeting is not possible now, says Harbitz.

She says that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs does not recognize what has been conveyed in the Israeli media regarding this case. On Wednesday at the latest, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been in contact with the Israeli authorities regarding this and has received information from the Israeli side that there is no entry ban.

To the Government of Norway

David Mencer explains why Eide is not welcome:

– I believe that they have not yet, to this day, condemned Hamas, says Netanyahu’s press chief.

Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre condemned the attack on Israel on 7 October already the same day. Støre also stated followingwards that Hamas must be categorized as a terrorist organisation.

– It is completely wrong that Norway has not condemned Hamas. That is a gross claim. Israel knows this is wrong, Støre adds NRK Wednesday evening.

– So to Norwegians and the government in Norway, in particular, or not to the Norwegian people, but to the government in Norway, we say this loud and clear: Norway, we have enough Jew-haters locally in Hamas in Gaza, we do not need to import their supporters from abroad, says Mencer.

Stands up once morest anti-Semitism

– Norway is and has always been a friend of the State of Israel. Norway’s government stands up once morest anti-Semitism in all its forms, says Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide to NTB.

He says that Norway is deeply troubled by much of what the current Israeli government is doing both in Gaza and in the West Bank, as well as statements leading politicians in the Israeli government have made in that connection.

– Calling on Israel to comply with and respect international law and point out injustice has nothing to do with hatred of Jews. The Israeli authorities should refrain from reacting with accusations of anti-Semitism when their policies are criticized, says Eide (Ap).

Concerned regarding the development

Eide says that Norway has repeatedly condemned Hamas’ terrorist attack on 7 October in the strongest possible terms.

– We demand a halt to the hostilities from all parties and the immediate and unconditional release of the hostages held in Gaza. Norway is also very concerned regarding developments on Israel’s northern border with Lebanon, where the conflict with Hezbollah might lead the region into a major war, says the foreign minister.

Not surprised

KrF deputy leader Ida Lindtveit Røse does not think it is surprising that Espen Barth Eide does not get to meet Israel Katz.

– KrF said in May that Barth Eide’s excessively quick symbolic recognition of Palestine as an independent state would hamper Norway’s contribution to peace and reconciliation in the region. That Barth Eide now has to pay for his own government’s hasty move should not surprise anyone, least of all Barth Eide himself, says Røse to NTB.

She makes a request to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

– We always have a duty to promote peace and do what we can to end the war in Gaza. Barth Eide and the Foreign Ministry must not give up, says Røse.

Heavy symbolism

FRP’s Erlend Wiborg believes Eide has pursued a radical and activist foreign policy with a clear bias once morest Israel. He believes that it should not surprise anyone that Israelis react.

– The recognition of Palestine has contributed greatly to playing Norway completely on the sidelines. By not acknowledging the trauma of the Jews following the terrorist attack on 7 October, constant condemnations and one-sided voting in the UN, the Government has taken the Palestinians’ side, says Wiborg.