WJC at UNHRC │Norway's Jewish Community President Praises Government for Combating Antisemitism

During the United Nations Human Rights Council, Damon Biesold, WJC International Relations Officer, spoke on behalf of Marius Gaarder, president of the Jewish community of Oslo, thanking the Norwegian government for their efforts to combat antisemitism, but also urged them that more must be done to curb the rise of anti-Zionism and antisemitism.

Read the full transcript:

Thank you, Mr. President.

I have the honor of delivering this statement on behalf of Marius Gaarder, President of the Jewish Community in Oslo.

Norway has had a challenging relationship toward Jews throughout its history. Jews were barred from entering the country by the 1814 Constitution, a restriction lifted only in 1851. During the interwar period and World War II, Norwegian Jews faced deportation and discrimination.

Today, antisemitism persists in various forms, including caricatures, op-eds, and rhetoric containing elements of classical antisemitism or sometimes linked to the Israel-Palestine conflict. One example is an illustration published in a Norwegian trade union magazine with the title "An eye for 4,000 teeth, a tooth for 4,000 teeth", in connection with the conflict between Israel and Hamas.

Since October 7, 2023, acceptance of antisemitism has grown, with over half of Norwegians expressing views that could be interpreted as such. At the same time, there is reason to believe that people chanting slogans such as "No Zionists in our streets" may not realize that this can be a form of antisemitism. Norwegians, in general, are not antisemites, but many have a strongly negative view of Israel. Studies indicate a strong correlation between negative attitudes toward Israel and negative attitudes toward Jews.

Despite increased reports of antisemitic incidents, police investigations are rare. There is little evidence of antisemitism among Norwegian politicians, but they may conflate terms or participate in controversial demonstrations where Israel’s actions are compared to those of Nazi Germany.

Norwegian Jews remain a small minority of under 2,000 people but benefit from initiatives like Pathfinders, which educates students about Jewish history and antisemitism. Cooperation with authorities is strong, supported by a national action plan against antisemitism, though more concrete measures are needed for lasting impact.

Thank you.