Israel shoots down planned visit by Norwegian PM

After attending anti-Israel event marking Kristallnacht anniversary, Norway’s premier snubbed by Israel over proposed visit.

By World Israel News Staff

The prime minister of Norway was snubbed after requesting a state visit to Israel, Norwegian media outlets reported over the weekend.

After attending the peace conference hosted by Egypt in Sharm el-Sheikh last month, which featured President Donald Trump, Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre began planning a trip to Israel.

Støre told the Dagens Næringsliv newspaper on Saturday that he had drafted plans last month for a visit to the region that would have included Israel, the Palestinian Authority, and Jordan.

However, the Netanyahu government rejected Støre’s request, the report said.

“This is not the time,” Israel said in response to the Norwegian government’s request, according to Støre.

The Norwegian prime minister attributed the rejection to opposition within the Israeli government to Norway’s support for unilateral Palestinian statehood and his government’s criticism of Israel’s war against the Hamas terror organization in the Gaza Strip.

“Yes, I think that parts of the Israeli government react in this way toward countries that have expressed opposition to the Gaza warfare and have recognized the Palestinian state,” Støre said.

Last year, Oslo joined several other European states in recognizing unilateral Palestinian statehood.

Israeli sources appeared to confirm Støre’s claim, with one telling Yedioth Aharonoth that “there is no reason to approve a visit by Norway’s prime minister in light of Norway’s conduct since Oct. 7.”

Earlier this month, Støre sparked outrage in Israel after he attended an event marking the anniversary of Kristallnacht, which was hosted by the anti-Israel Norwegian Centre Against Racism, while refusing to attend a parallel event hosted by an organization representing Norway’s Jewish community.

“Støre chose to participate in a ceremony that turned a horrific episode of the murder and persecution of Jews – the anniversary of Kristallnacht (the Night of Broken Glass) – into a weapon against the Jewish state, Israelis, and Jews,” the Israeli Foreign Ministry said.

“This is an affront to the memory of the Holocaust’s victims – especially to the more than 750 Norwegian Jews who were deported and murdered by the Nazis and their local collaborators.”