Norway: Israel boycott a flop
Survey among large food chains shows no reduction in sales of Israeli products
According to a report in the Norway Post, consumers in the stores who took part in the survey said they are not interested in boycotting Israeli products even if they have heard of the call for a boycott on Israel.
Responding to the survey results, consumer researcher Eivind Jacobsen said Norwegians do not have a tradition of boycotts, the Norway Post said. Jacobsen also noted most of the Norwegian imports from Israel consist of components for electronics and IT, as opposed to fruits and vegetables.
Recently, the Socialist Left Party in Norway said it will not drop the planned boycott of Israeli products, despite the harsh criticism leveled at Finance Minister Kristin Halvorsen, who voiced her support for such move.
Elsewhere, the Norwegian parliament in the Sor-Trondelag region decided to boycott Israeli-made products recently and to forbid the sale and purchase of Israeli goods.
The boycott calls in Norway, which have been criticized both in Norway and by outsiders such as the Anti-Defamation League, are believed to be related to anti-Israel sentiments and perceptions that Israel oppresses the Palestinians.
