Norway's Foreign Ministry this week gave the supporters of the anti-Israel boycott, divestment and sanctions movement an unexpected boon by declaring that boycotting Israeli goods produced in Judea and Samaria is not illegal.
The statement followed appeals by several municipalities and authorities in the country, including the Norwegian Agriculture and Food Ministry and the City of Trondheim, the country's third-largest metropolitan area.
Deputy Foreign Minister Audun Halvorsen said in early May that a boycott of "goods and services produced in [Israeli] settlements does not contradict Norway's international commitments."
He added that the Norwegian government does not recommend municipal boycotts because it is not "an appropriate means of resolving the conflict between the Israelis and the Palestinians."
Norway's right-wing government maintains close ties with Israel and Oslo's Foreign Ministry evaded the appeals for months, so as not to strain relations.
Increasing pressure, however, has forced the ministry to respond, and it recently sent a letter to the Trade and Industry Ministry saying that while boycotts of Israeli goods produced in Judea and Samaria should be avoided, they do not violate any law.
As expected, the BDS movement, which is very popular locally, hailed the decision and pro-Palestinian activists have presented similar motions in three other cities in Norway.
Norway's Confederation of Trade Unions, which declared a boycott of settlement-produced goods last year, also welcomed the move and urged further divestment from the Jewish state.
The Israeli Embassy in Oslo is said to be in close contact with local officials to try to keep the Foreign Ministry's statement declarative and prevent it from taking shape on the ground, but one Israeli official said the damage has most likely already been done.
Israel's Strategic Affairs Ministry, which spearheads the fight against the BDS movement, issued a statement saying, "This is another step demonstrating that European nations are willing to make room for the BDS movement's anti-Semitic hatred campaign.
"We expect European nations to live up to their declared policy of denouncing and prohibiting boycotts of any kind."
