Israel Matzav

Norwegian foreign minister endorses anti-Israel propaganda book

Three months ago, I reported that the Norwegian media had given a standing ovation to Drs. Mads Gilbert and Erik Fosse, who had spent Operation Cast Lead at Hamas' headquarters at Shifa Hospital in Gaza. Gilbert wrote a book about the experience, which was being promoted to the journalists (pictured with the book).

Now, the Norwegian Foreign Minister, Jonas Gahr Store, has praised the book, which accuses Israel of perpetrating a "monstrous, systematically implemented and comprehensive massacre." Israel's Deputy Foreign Minister, Danny Ayalon, is outraged.

Deputy Foreign Minister Danny Ayalon told Haaretz that the book being endorsed by Jonas Gahr Store is "outrageous and borders on incitement made up of fabrication and lies."

"It is problematic that a representative of a democratic government is praising such things," Ayalon added.

A representative of Europe's Jewish community agrees:

Dr. Moshe Kantor, president of the European Jewish Congress, said he was "deeply disappointed" by Store's endorsement of "slanted and baseless libel." "Norway, which I hope will continue to live far away from terrorism, needs to know that such statements feed and assist the terrorists," Kantor said.

But Norway's Foreign Ministry defended the book and the Foreign Minister's jacket-cover review.

"As can be recalled, journalists and reporters were not allowed into Gaza," a spokesperson for the Norwegian foreign ministry said when asked about the back-cover praises which Store wrote for the highly controversial book.

"When war rages, civilians are made mute," Store wrote, adding that Fosse and Gilbert "told of what they saw. It was not their duty, but their responsibility. When military might fences out all voices, the few which remain become extra strong and important."

Some of you might recall that Israel's agreements with the 'Palestinians' are called the Oslo accords, because the initial negotiations took place under the Norwegian foreign ministry in Oslo. I would not expect the Norwegians to be involved in any future negotiations involving Israel for a long time to come.

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 12:43 PM