Dear Mr. Hauge:

It has come to my attention that your government is engaged in a boycott of Israeli products. A few days ago, someone in your government decided to refuse a shipment of 3,000 tons of potatoes that had been ordered from Israel. The ship was simply turned away from the port. Fortunately, the potatoes were able to be sold in the United Kingdom.

I learned further that today at the Mayday parade in Norway, a Palestinian Authority representative was a featured speaker.

If the above is true, then I am outraged at the support of terrorism by the Kingdom of Norway. Any Norwegian boycott of Israel, whether official or not, would be symptomatic of the same evils that made it easy for the Nazis fifty years ago to find, round up and murder Norwegian Jews.

There is no moral equivalence between the terrorism personally authorized by Yasir Arafat and Israel's measures to defend her citizens.

Sincerely,

Jay S. Lapidus May 1, 2002


This is the response I received:

Subject: Regarding your letter
Date: Mon, 13 May 2002 16:01:33 +0200

Dear Sir/Madam

Please be assured that all Norwegian governments in modern times have taken a clear stand against discrimination of any kind. This also includes anti-Semitism.

The present Government's policy of non-discrimination was recently restated firmly by Norway's Prime Minister while visiting a Jewish synagogue in Oslo. He there learnt how Jewish citizens, including children, are presently being harassed and blamed for the current state of affairs in the Middle East.

In a speech shortly afterwards Prime Minister Kjell Magne Bondevik said that everybody, the press included, must distinguish between the policy of the Israeli Government and Jewish communities in Norway and elsewhere. The critical situation in the Middle East must not be used to instigate antagonism against Jewish citizens. He acknowledged that certain regretable incidents had occured, and said that the Jewish minority in Norway needs both respect and protection.

The Royal Norwegian Embassy and Norwegian Consulates General in the United States have recently received quite a few inquiries about Norway and the Middle East. Many of them have been based on misunderstandings and inaccurate information. For instance, supermarkets in Norway do not boycott Israeli goods (see enclosed press release from Coop Norway, who was previously reported to be considering a boycott). http://www.coop.no/om_coop/nyheter/19692.htm)

Furthermore, I would like to inform you about the following:

According to media reports, the Confederation of Trade Unions has, as a protest against the Goverment of Israel, called for its members not to buy products from Israel at present. However, boycott of Israeli goods is not a policy of the Government of Norway.

The Nobel Committee has not considered revoking the Nobel Peace Prize from Shimon Peres (see the Nobel Committee's enclosed press release). http://www.nobel.no/eng_com_press.html The Nobel Committee does not represent the Norwegian Government. It is an independent body whose members are appointed by the Storting, the Norwegian parliament. The members represent a broad political spectrum, and they serve in an individual capacity.

Let me assure you that the Jewish people have many true friends in Norway. As one of them, I feel hurt when I see unjust accusations. Condemning violence, the Norwegian Government is as committed as ever to contribute to a peaceful solution to the tragic conflict in the Middle East. The Government is also committed to defending the right of Norway's citizens to freely express their opinion, even in situations when the Government does. not agree with the views presented.

Yours sincerely,

Jon-Åge Øyslebø
Counselor
Royal Norwegian Embassy
Washington, D.C.


And here's my response:

Jon-Åge Øyslebø
Counselor
Royal Norwegian Embassy
Washington, D.C.

Dear Mr. Øyslebø:

Thank you for your response to my e-mail.

On Mon, 13 May 2002 16:01:33 +0200, you replied:

According to media reports, the Confederation of Trade Unions has, as a protest against the Goverment of Israel, called for its members not to buy products from Israel at present. However, boycott of Israeli goods is not a policy of the Government of Norway.

Understood, but has the Government of Norway spoken out against the boycott?

The Nobel Committee has not considered revoking the Nobel Peace Prize from Shimon Peres (see the Nobel Committee's enclosed press release). http://www.nobel.no/eng_com_press.html. The Nobel Committee does not represent the Norwegian Government. It is an independent body whose members are appointed by the Storting, the Norwegian parliament. The members represent a broad political spectrum, and they serve in an individual capacity.

Has the Storting or the Government spoken out against the views of those individual members of the Nobel Committee who now oppose the Peace Prize for Mr. Peres but who do not oppose it for Yasir Arafat?

Let me assure you that the Jewish people have many true friends in Norway. As one of them, I feel hurt when I see unjust accusations. Condemning violence, the Norwegian Government is as committed as ever to contribute to a peaceful solution to the tragic conflict in the Middle East.

I am aware that your prime minister spoke out against the most recent atrocity, the homicide bombing in Rishon LeTzion. But Israel's many, true friends need to speak up not only when innocent Israelis are victims of terrorism, but also when the elected government of Israel takes the necessary measures to defend its citizens.

The Government is also committed to defending the right of Norway's citizens to freely express their opinion, even in situations when the Government does not agree with the views presented.

I am not challenging the right of free speech. But I am challenging the right of good people to remain silent in the face of unjust boycotts.

Yours sincerely,

(Mr.) Jay S. Lapidus, 5/15/02

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