But its a small cabal of the political, union, academic and media elite WHO ARE They DO NOT CARE about adopting an even handed approach to this conflict (Thats ALL that we ask) They are overtly uncompromisingly ANTI ISRAEL WHATEVER THE ISSUE and some openly and uncompromisingly racist What a sad example of tolerance and fair mindedness these so called leaders in Norway give to the rest of Norwegian society

The 'choseness' of the Jews in the Bible does not imply any kind of aristocracy or superiority of Jews. According to the Bible, Jews are the Chosen People because they were chosen to make the idea of one God known to the world. Jews do not believe that being a member of the Chosen People gives them any special talents or makes them better than anyone else. On the topic of chosenness, the Book of Amos even goes so far as to say: "You alone have I singled out of all the families of the earth. That is why I call you to account for all your iniquities" (Amos 3:2). In this way Jews are called to be a “light to the nations” (Isaiah 42:6) by doing good in the world through gemilut hasidim (acts of loving kindness) and tikkun olam (repairing the world). So the 'choseness' actually implies responsibility, not superiority.

Most of Europe is virulently anti-semitic - the pogroms inquisitions & holocaust that killed millions of Jews were all carried out in Europe. And Catherine Ashton is a typical pro-muslim , anti-semitic European.

When you listen to the statements of Scandinavian political leaders they use completely harsher critic when it concerns Israel's policy. F.ex. Syria is known to torture their prisoners for 30-40 years but Scandinavian leaders never said a word against it. Russia in known to try to exterminate the tsetsens but not even one Scandinavian leader utters a word against it!

something that used to be done 100 years ago. sadly how much has changed, I think the socialist party will turn Norway to the second greece or spain, aka bank ruppet, with civic riots. I truly believe Norway want a change away from the socialism, you got golden opportunity to change that on the next elections.

..put a honey-pot out and expect the words are taken for truth :-) The leftist of Nroway will salude you, even the leftist government where you soon will end up.-

Norway just describes Israel as state always breach Human rights. Israel is a Jewish state and their critics are resembling antisemitism. Unfortunately Scandinavian countries are becoming day by day Anti Israel and anti Jews. outposts of racial hatred

Furnes wrote that Norway's positive ties with Israel were in its early days—and for good reason. Many Norwegians are antisemitic, but even more of them are socialist extremists (Norway is one of the most extreme socialist countries, definitely the most extreme in the West). Socialist extremists, be they in Norway, the UK or US, are usually virulently opposed to Israel by default, and support the Palestinians. This is known as the "Red–Green Alliance". The opposite was true in Israel's early days, when Israel was socialist and the Arabs were ruled by monarchs. So no, Norway is not necessarily more antisemitic than the rest of Europe. However, that is not relevant when so many of them hate Israel as much as the antisemites hate the Jews.

This is a despicable attack on Prof Gerstenfeld and his work. Look how Furnes starts her article -------‘the debate about Scandinavian anti-Semitism in the Israeli English-language media has been hijacked by extremists’ --- Is she saying that Gerstenfeld is an extremist and that he hijacked the debate? What is clear is that she is saying, yes, there is some anti-Semitism but it is no worse than in the rest of Europe. However, she is unable to tell us how Norway and the non-extremists ‘serious actors fighting against anti-Semitism’ deal with ‘the complexities of the current debate in the country’. As far as I can see, there are no debates and until the tide turns (unlikely), I hold with Gerstenfeld (and his ilk) who work tirelessly to document anti-Semitism in Norway and the rest of Europe.

On the island of Utoeya where Breivik perpetrated his murders- the young kids who participated in the Labor seminar were indoctrinated how to boycott israel- not Iran! What do u call that!

Even Israeli. Otherwise they'd be on the Hebrew site. They are typically American, hardly travelled and Europe is just one big country to them. I speak from the heart, I'm Israeli and my wife is Norwegian. I love Israel and I love Norway.

"close political relationship between Norway and Israel during the Ben-Gurion era" proofs nothing. It was long long ago. The problem of new anti-Semitism is related to the present reality. You need not consider yourself as having bad thoughts about Jews in order to deny them the right to an own country. And this is reality of Scandinavian antisemitism in disguise of anti-Zionism.

terrorizes Jewish children in schools,and Jews on the street ?.

Miserable weather Crap Food 3 months of almost total darkness 3 months of almost eternal daylight Wouldn't you go crazy too?

bunch of drunken fishermen, sad, lonely and a very dark long hungover winter with the brains of a mackerel.

If the leader of Norway's Jewish community feels that Gerstenfeld paints an unbalanced picture of the situation of Jews in Norway, isn't that worth noting? Shouldn't Ervin Kohn be a credible authority on that subject? He lives here, MG doesn't. Does the writer of #20 know where Telemark is? The odd Jewish peddler may have traveled through the mostly rural landscape of Telemark in the olden days, but settle there? No. The majority of Norwegian Jews have always lived in Oslo.

This argument can by no means serve as a support for the "it's-not-so-bad-position". The Shoah deals with dead Jews, killing of Jews, discrimination of Jews. It's a delight to anyone who hates Jews! It's a reassurance that there were good Jews (those who were innocently victimized) and if only todays Jews were more like them everything was fine.

Karoline, I like your commenst even better. You are on the ground there and obviously have intimate knowledge of the true state of affairs. Norway's attitude towards the Jews, over the years, has been murky at best. I still maintain that for things to change, Israel and the Jews's side of the story, needs to be better explained and understood, not only by Norwegians, but by all of Europe, where Antisemitism is on the increase. Our opponents' PR, has unfortunately been more effective and that needs to change for things to get better.

google for the information

is this opinion about Norway or about Gerstenfeld ?

the lady slanders him

It's all in the eyes and taste buds of the beholder. To quote a Norwegian proverb: There is no such thing as bad weather, only inappropriate clothing. I can add many layers, which I do, when I walk my dog when it is -20 with a meter of snow, but when I was in Israel and it was +40 with high humidity, I couldn't take off any more clothing than I did (without riling up the modesty squad) and I was still sweaty and miserable. Norway has won more Bocuse d'Ors (world championships for chefs) than any other country than France - fresh fish and seafood, the best berries on earth because of long summer days, and many varieties of crusty, seedy bread and pastries. As a non-meat-eater, soy, dairy and gluten intolerant, I could hardly eat anything in Israel. Most of us don't think about the darkness - actually, it has its own charms - and for those that are bothered by it, there are special lights to counteract Seasonal Affective Disorder. I can't imagine that anyone complains about the glorious light summer evenings, when we enjoy the few tropical nights (temperature +20 or above) of the season. Sitting outside close to midnight when it looks like dusk, enjoying fresh wild salmon and new potatoes with dill or locally caught shrimp with mayonnaise and white wine are both culinary and sensual delights that few other places or menus can match!

hundreds.the jews on the ship were not allowed to stay in norway they had to leave the country forthwith

Today Israelis = several horse - heads before all the rest

Anyone that oil rich is chock-a-block full of rednecks, just look at Alberta and Texas, both of which appear to be stuck in the 1950's in the cultural sense. Oil has the effect of putting a culture into a timewarp, where what happens with their neighbors is of little interest to them.

I hate how Jews want to "teach" people about the Holocaust Most people could give a crap about the Holocaust, it was an embarrassing time in Jewish history, most kids probably laugh when they learn about the Holocaust

one could add, "santimonious" because the norwegians are never far from advertising how much more noble, how much finer, how much more virtuous they are than the Americans or Israel. in the media, in the universities, in the govt, they are hateful. most of them really don't even care if they are called on it. they're happy about it.

When will Norway permit kosher slaughter? When will Norway stop sending money to enemies of the Jews? Is Brutus truly an honourable man?

Your stupidest comment to date. How many Norwegians -- or any other Europeans, for that matter -- were herded into gas chambers by the Jews? Your analogy is inapposite and completely inappropriate.