The Jewish community expressed shock at the distortion and feigned innocence of the Center Against Racism, which systematically attacks Israel. "Recently, representatives of human rights organizations here claimed that Jews try to cover up the 'genocide' by complaining about their sense of insecurity and antisemitism. There are organizations here trying to rewrite history, and in the end, the Norwegian prime minister announces he's attending this event and legitimizes it. It's no coincidence they invite leftists – they want to bring Jews who will say what they themselves believe and won't accuse them of antisemitism, and thus they rewrite history and turn the victim into the aggressor, thereby making the victim again," the source explained.

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Poll results published in recent weeks predict that the Labor Party will remain the largest party in parliament after the elections, with polls giving it 27% and a comfortable position to form a coalition.

The threshold in the country stands at 4%, and polls predict that several small left-wing parties, some with extreme communist positions, are expected to enter parliament. Despite the many challenges facing Norway's approximately 5.5 million residents, absurdly, a central part of those left parties' campaign dealt with a completely different subject: the war in Gaza.

"The election campaign of left-wing parties focused on the war in Gaza disproportionately. Sometimes it seemed like this is the center of the world and this is the most urgent problem that most affects Norwegian citizens," notes Norwegian writer and journalist Ivar Fjeld. "The parties on the left thought that if they focus on Gaza and compete over who condemns Israel more, they'll get more votes. Accusing Israel of genocide and crimes against humanity was perceived as effective on the left – it was simply madness."

Despite the anti-Israel campaign, the messages of support Alplag received represent a pro-Israel side in Norway. Unlike Ireland, where there is almost complete consensus against Israel, in Norway, there are groups of Christians who love Israel, located mainly in the western and southern regions. Beyond that, it seems the country's future generation leans more to the right, including parties with a positive approach to Israel.

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Nicolai Tangen, CEO of Norges Bank Investment Management which manages the Norwegian oil fund, said the decision was made due to "extraordinary circumstances." He described the situation in Gaza as a severe humanitarian crisis and said, "We are investing in companies operating in a country at war, and conditions in the West Bank and Gaza have worsened recently."

Last week, the Norwegian newspaper Aftenposten revealed that the fund had invested in Israeli aerospace manufacturer Bet Shemesh Engines, which produces components for fighter jet engines. Tangen confirmed the report and admitted the fund had even increased its stake after the war in Gaza began. The uproar prompted Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre to ask Finance Minister Jens Stoltenberg, a former NATO secretary-general, to review the matter.

The fund currently holds shares in 61 Israeli companies, most of them included in its official benchmark index. However, 11 of these investments fall outside the index and were not publicly listed. Following public pressure, the fund's management said it decided last week to sell off all such "off-benchmark" holdings in Israeli firms as soon as possible.

This is not the first time the Norwegian oil fund has divested from Israeli companies. In May last year, it sold all its shares in Paz Oil after the fund's ethics council determined that the company supplied fuel to settlements in Judea and Samaria. In December 2024, it sold its entire stake in Bezeq for the same reason.

The fund said it has closely monitored companies connected to wars and conflicts for years. "Since 2020, we have spoken to more than 60 companies about this issue. Thirty-nine of those conversations focused on Judea and Samaria and Gaza," it said. According to the fund, scrutiny of Israeli companies intensified last fall, "and as a result, we have already sold investments in several Israeli companies."

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The mistake occurred during the Eurojackpot drawing, where a currency conversion glitch caused euro cents to be converted incorrectly into Norwegian kroner. Instead of dividing by 100, the sums were multiplied by 100, inflating the reported winnings by a staggering factor of 10,000.

Following the fiasco, Tonje Sagstuen, CEO of the state-owned lottery company Norsk Tipping, announced her resignation. "I deeply regret that we disappointed so many people," Sagstuen told Norwegian media. "As CEO, it was my responsibility to handle the errors that occurred."

Culture Minister Lubna Jaffery responded sharply, summoning the company's leadership for an emergency meeting. "Our entire model is based on trust. What happened is completely unacceptable," she said.

One of the misinformed "winners," Breige Halvorsen, told Norwegian media that his partner had received a notification claiming she had won 1.2 million kroner (about $110,000). "She came over with her heart racing," he said. The couple is currently renovating an old house, and the money would have helped immensely. "When I saw that the jackpot was listed at 76 billion, I realized something was off."

This isn't Norsk Tipping's first error this year. The company has already been fined 46 million kroner for a malfunction in the national lottery, and an additional 36 million for a failure in its self-exclusion system meant for gambling addicts.

Atle Hamar, head of the national gambling authority, said the CEO's resignation was not enough to restore trust. "Trust must be rebuilt over time," he stressed.

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Following the report about an Israeli who was refused accommodation by a hotel in Geiranger village, Norway, claiming a boycott led by the LO workers' organization – new evidence has now emerged. An Israeli woman who made a reservation last year shared that she received a letter from the hotel management stating, "Your government threatens sanctions against Norway – we will not approve reservations from Israelis until it becomes clear to us what sanctions Israel will impose."

BREAKING: Developments in the case of antisemitic Norwegian hotel:
Not the first time hotel refuses Israelis
Hotel reported to police for discrimination

Source: @StoppNRK https://t.co/sPV7DOB7Fb pic.twitter.com/GTwFOx5lTB

— On Elpeleg (@onelpeleg) May 13, 2025

According to her, the hotel initially confirmed her reservation, but after she contacted Booking.com, she was forced to give up due to hostility from the hotel. Her testimony adds to a previous account published earlier, which claimed that the hotel refused to host an Israeli, arguing it was a "force majeure" situation, and that the staff is organized in the LO workers' union, obligating them to comply with the boycott – apparently to avoid future lawsuits.

On Elpeleg, an Israeli living in Norway, responded harshly, "This is like traveling back in time 85 years... Norway is closing its doors to Jews again."

Meanwhile, a police complaint has been filed against the hotel owners. Additionally, according to testimony from a local resident, it was learned that a Scottish employee working at the hotel reception holds strong anti-Israeli views.

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The Israeli traveler expressed his concern after learning that the hotel, situated in the village of Geiranger – one of Scandinavia's premier tourist destinations – might reject his request specifically because of his Israeli nationality. The hotel indicated it would need to examine whether hosting him would even be possible.

The labor organization's boycott apparently shields the hotel from potential future legal claims by creating a "force majeure" circumstance that provides business justification for refusing Israeli guests. "We need to inform you that our staff is organized in LO unions and they will not break the boycott. I will need to consult with the employers' organization as I see this as a force majeure situation," the hotel management wrote in their response.

On Elpeleg, a Norwegian-Israeli who has lived in Norway for years and belongs to the Facebook group "Norway - Travelers Community" where the post was shared, expressed his shock on Monday morning.

BREAKING:
Norwegian hotels to boycott Israeli tourists.

Source: @StoppNRK
See: https://t.co/0tr55jwvFl pic.twitter.com/Mhy2pICn1n

— On Elpeleg (@onelpeleg) May 12, 2025

"As a Jew who has been fighting antisemitism for 40 years, I have never experienced something so shocking. It's like traveling back in time 85 years to 1940, to the period when Norway sent its Jews to Auschwitz. I am simply in shock – Norway was the last country in Europe to allow Jews to enter, and now it's closing its doors again," Elpeleg said.

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A deeply concerning trend has emerged in Norway where Jewish community members fear seeking medical care due to growing anti-Israel sentiment among healthcare workers. In an unprecedented letter to health authorities, Jewish leaders warn that community members are hiding their identities in medical settings – a situation not experienced "since World War II."

The letter, signed by Marius Gaarder, chairman of the Jewish community in Oslo, and John Arne Moen from the Jewish community in Trondheim, raises alarming concerns: "Shortly after October 7, 2023, alongside growing anti-Israel mobilization among segments of healthcare workers, health institutions, and medical experts, several members of the Jewish community expressed concern that they would feel uncomfortable seeking medical treatment and fear they wouldn't receive optimal care if they revealed they were Jewish... This is a situation we haven't experienced since World War II."

Dr. Rolf Kirschner, a Jewish physician with 45 years of experience in Norway's public health system and a member of the Norwegian Medical Association, describes this as an unprecedented phenomenon. "People don't dare wear Jewish symbols like the Star of David when going for examinations, and Jewish patients fear having their names called aloud in waiting rooms out of concern that caregivers or others will discover they are Jewish," he explained.

The situation has worsened as patients encounter politically charged environments. "Some Jewish patients were alarmed when they encountered healthcare professionals displaying overtly political posters and pamphlets expressing support for Palestinians, and they're afraid to complain about this for fear of negative reactions from medical staff on whom their health depends," Kirschner added.

While acknowledging freedom of expression, Kirschner believes certain political displays should remain outside medical facilities: "The letter calls on health services, relevant organizations, and the government to ensure Jews feel comfortable in hospitals and don't fear approaching and receiving medical care, or hide their identity in hospitals."

Norway's Jewish population is small – approximately 1,500 registered Jews nationwide, with 800 residing in Oslo. This vulnerability is compounded by the Norwegian government's strongly pro-Palestinian stance. Dr. Kirschner reports that community members have expressed fears about receiving substandard care due to solidarity shown by various medical professional organizations with Palestinian causes and calls for boycotts against Israel.

Though Dr. Kirschner cited only five or six documented cases of patients sharing these concerns with community leaders, he believes they indicate a broader pattern. These anxieties intensified following the viral spread of a video showing Australian hospital staff describing how they mistreat Israeli patients. In response, Dr. Kirschner urged professional organizations to take action: "The unions should inform their members that healthcare professionals need to remain neutral in the workplace and not display political symbols. They should make it clear that union members are prohibited from participating in political demonstrations at the workplace."

Health Minister Jan Christian Vestre responded to the concerns, stating: "All patients should feel safe when treated in our public health service. No one should experience discomfort or worry when receiving healthcare, and I expect everyone to be treated with dignity." He emphasized that creating inclusive environments remains "a local responsibility of medical institutions" that authorities expect to be "taken seriously." The head of the Nurses Association has also acknowledged these concerns and promised to address them.

On Alpeleg, an Israeli-Norwegian resident of over three decades, places these concerns in a troubling historical context: "The Norwegian health system has a problematic past and present which is undoubtedly tainted by political influence. Norway assisted the Nazis in deporting Jews to extermination camps, and today it is the only Western country that refuses to recognize the murderous organization Hamas as a terrorist organization. As a Jewish resident of Norway, I feel deep concern about the influence of politics on the ethics and professionalism of the healthcare system."

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Now, ahead of the general elections scheduled for September this year, it appears that there is a real possibility of a shift in the relationship between the two countries. "In Norway, there are many people with strong feelings about the Middle East conflict, but this is not an area where Norway has much to do, and there are other countries that are closer to the conflict zone and can contribute more," explained Erna Solberg, former Prime Minister of Norway and leader of the "Conservative Party."

The Conservative Party is the largest opposition party in Parliament, belonging to the right-wing, and according to current polls, is expected to be part of a future center-right government. Solberg noted that the current government's policy has resulted in a lack of diplomatic contacts between Israel and Norway, and few countries have joined Norway's decision to recognize a Palestinian state, indicating that the move has not been effective. "We support a two-state solution for two peoples. Therefore, we do not dispute the idea that Palestine could become a separate, self-standing state, but we disagree with the timing of the recognition of a Palestinian state. When we look at the results of the Labour Party's foreign policy, it is clear that their approach has been poor," she stated.

According to recent polls, Solberg has a good chance of returning to the position of Prime Minister of Norway, a role she held from 2013 to 2021. The Conservative Party, under her leadership, is expected to rise in strength in the upcoming elections, reaching over 22%, while the Labour Party, which represents the political left, is losing a significant portion of its support, dropping by more than seven percent to only about 19%. The leading party in the polls is the "Progress Party" (FrP), which is considered right-wing and is receiving nearly 25% support. This suggests that there is a strong likelihood that the next elections will result in a change of government in Norway, bringing back the neutral policy that previously characterized the country and gave it a special standing in the region.

As mentioned, relations between Israel and Norway are currently at their lowest point since the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries. The person who stood out the most in his criticism of Israel and led the deterioration of relations was Norway's Foreign Minister, Espen Barth Eide. The senior diplomat in the Norwegian government was the one who pushed for Norwegian recognition of a Palestinian state and supported the legal claim against Israel at The Hague. He frequently attacked the Israeli government during the "Iron Swords" war while simultaneously expressing strong sympathy for the Palestinian side's hardships. His actions sparked significant criticism from Israel's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which accused him of being "the only European country that did not sever its ties with the Hamas terrorist organization."

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A beluga whale that captured international attention in 2019 after appearing off Norway's coast wearing a suspicious harness was indeed a runaway from  Russia's military program. The harness, which could possibly hold a camera or weapon and was marked "Equipment St Petersburg," sparked widespread speculation about espionage, but the whale wasn't a spy, according to a marine scientist with extensive knowledge of Russian marine mammal programs who spoke to the BBC.

The revelation comes five years after the mysterious white whale, dubbed Hvaldimir by locals in a playful nod to hval, which is Norwegian for whale, and Russian President Vladimir Putin, first surfaced in Norwegian waters wearing equipment that sparked widespread media coverage and speculation about Russian military activities in the Arctic.

Researchers think this beluga whale could be a Russian weapon pic.twitter.com/ravc7sgYqS

— NowThis Impact (@nowthisimpact) April 30, 2019

Eve Jourdain, a researcher from the Norwegian Orca Survey, noted the whale's unusual behavior: "It was very obvious that this particular whale had been conditioned to be putting his nose on anything that looked like a target because he was doing it each time," she told the BBC. "But we have no idea what kind of facility he was in, so we don't know what he was trained for."

Dr. Olga Shpak, who researched marine mammals in Russia from the 1990s until returning to her native Ukraine in 2022, told the BBC that the whale was being trained to guard a naval base in the Arctic Circle before it escaped. "For me, it's 100% (certain)," she said in comments to the, ending years of speculation about the whale's origins.

A beluga whale with a harness that says "Equipment St. Petersburg" rubbed against a boat in Norway, officials there said, raising alarm it could belong to the Russian Navy.

The whale was tame and "used to get food served so that is why it has made contacts with the fishermen." pic.twitter.com/fKpAkYAwpQ

— AJ+ (@ajplus) April 29, 2019

According to Dr. Shpak, whose account is based on conversations with former colleagues in Russia, who she declined to name for their safety, the whale was originally captured in 2013 from the Sea of Okhotsk and was known as Andruha. The marine mammal was initially held at a St Petersburg dolphinarium before being transferred to the military program in the Arctic the following year.

"What I've heard from the guys at the commercial dolphinarium who used to have him was that Andruha was smart, so a good choice to be trained. But at the same time, he was kind of like a hooligan – an active beluga – so they were not surprised that he gave up on (following) the boat and went where he wanted to," Dr. Shpak explained.

The whale's apparent military connections were further supported by satellite imagery revealing what appear to be white whale pens near a submarine base in Murmansk, which may have been the beluga's former home. "The location of the beluga whales very close to the submarines and the surface vessels might tell us that they are actually part of a guarding system," said Thomas Nilsen from The Barents Observer.

While Russia has a documented history of training marine mammals for military purposes, dating back to the Soviet era, it has never officially acknowledged ownership of this particular whale. In 2019, Russian reserve colonel Viktor Baranets dismissed the spy allegations, stating: "If we were using this animal for spying, do you really think we'd attach a mobile phone number with the message 'Please call this number'?"

The whale's journey after its escape was closely monitored by Norwegian authorities, who arranged for it to be fed and tracked. Initially unable to catch live fish, Hvaldimir charmed visitors to Hammerfest by playfully interacting with their cameras and, in one memorable instance, even retrieving a dropped mobile phone from the water.

Over time, the beluga learned to feed independently and spent several years traveling south along Norway's coast, demonstrating remarkable adaptability to life in the wild. In May 2023, it was spotted off Sweden's coast, marking the furthest south it had ever ventured.

Police say the death of Hvaldimir, a beluga whale rumored to be a Russian spy, wasn't caused by human activity https://t.co/uVsLyUyLoQ pic.twitter.com/wbSDGn25z2

— Reuters (@Reuters) September 9, 2024

"The whale starts rubbing against the boat," said Joar Hesten, one of the fishermen who encountered the friendly mammal. "I heard about animals in distress that instinctively knew that they need help from humans. I was thinking that this is one smart whale."

The whale's remarkable journey ended when its body was discovered floating near Risavika on Norway's southwestern coast on September 1, 2024. While some activist groups initially suggested foul play, Norwegian police have dismissed claims that the whale was shot, stating there was no evidence of human involvement in its death. A post-mortem examination revealed that Hvaldimir/Andruha died after a stick became lodged in its mouth.

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Foreign Minister Israel Katz announced Thursday that Israel is canceling the diplomatic status of Norway's representatives to the Palestinian Authority in response to Oslo's recognition of a Palestinian state and decision to join South Africa in its lawsuit against Israel at the International Criminal Court.

Katz made the government's position unequivocal, warning that "those who attack us and pursue a unilateral policy against us will pay a price." The eight Norwegian diplomats tasked with representing their country's interests vis-à-vis the Palestinian Authority will now have their entry permits revoked within the next seven days. They will be forced to decide whether to remain in Tel Aviv in a bid to mend Israel-Norway relations, or return home.

In summoning the head of the Norwegian Embassy in Israel, the Foreign Ministry delivered a diplomatic note informing Norway of the punitive measures. According to the ministry, the new policy will be implemented immediately, stripping the eight diplomats of their diplomatic status and severing their connection to the PA.

Katz lambasted Norway's actions, stating, "Instead of fighting Palestinian terrorism after Oct. 7 and supporting Israel's fight against the Iranian axis of evil, Norway chose to reward the Hamas murderers and rapists by recognizing a Palestinian state, and not content with that, also joined the absurd lawsuit against us at the ICC."

The minister made it clear that Norway's "unilateral policy on the Palestinians" would no longer be tolerated, ordering the "cessation of any representation whatsoever by the Norwegian Embassy in Israel vis-à-vis the Palestinian Authority." Katz's message was unequivocal: "Those who attack us and pursue a unilateral policy against us will pay a price."

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