EJP | News | Western Europe | Norwegian minister apologises for boycott call

	Friday, September 03, 2010 24 Elul, 5770

News

France

Germany

Western Europe

Eastern Europe

EU-Israel affairs

US 2008 ELECTION

Iran - Holocaust

Conflict in Gaza

Voices

Culture

In Depth

Mideast Crisis

World Cup

On Anglo Jewry

Week at a glance

France Election

EU and Annapolis Summit

News from outside of Europe

Holocaust Remembrance Day

Mumbai Terror

DURBAN II

WILLIAMSON

Stories from our Readers

The Calendar

Links

Norwegian minister apologises for boycott call

Updated: 08/Jan/2006 17:24

Norway’s finance minister Kristin Halvorsen

Page tools

	Email to friend
	Print this page
	Bookmark this page
	Add your view

Norway's finance minister Kristin Halvorsen said on Friday night she regrets her call for boycotting Israel.

Halvorsen met a wave of criticism from all political parties in Norway on Wednesday after she said that she support the policy of boycotting Israel.

She called all counties in Norway to follow the decision of the county parliament of Soer Trondelag in Northern Norway, which adapted boycott policy against Israel.

Speaking on Norwegian television, Halvorsen said: "I regret that I supported the initiative to boycott Israel. It was my mistake as a member of government to make a political statement in a way that opposes the policy of the majority of the government".

In an answer to a question whether she was forced to apologize by the prime minister, Halvorsen answered: "No, I am glad that I came to this conclusion all by myself".

Israel officially protested against Halvorsen’s original statement and threatened that it would damage the bilateral relationship between Norway and Israel.

The American ambassador to Oslo officially protested and demanded explanation. Both Norway's Prime Minister Jan Stoltenberg and Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Store dismissed categorically any change in Norway's policy towards Israel.

"Boycotting only damages any chance of dialogue"' said foreign minister Gahr-Store.

After the apology was circulated Israeli officials said that they accept.