Anti-Semitism in Norway: the accusation that never was ?

"... then what do we have? An Israeli writing a book about anti-semitism in Norway, being quoted for saying something he never said."

However twisted and biaised, at least there is a debate ...

Source: And so the plot thickens… in the "Norway, Israel and the Jews" blog

"On March 1st Manfred Gerstenfeld was quoted in 20 Norwegian newspapers for saying that "Norway is the most anti-semitic country in Europe" and "Norwegians are barbaric and uncivilized". Naturally, the Norwegian people reacted with disgust. Did this affect the perceptions of Gerstenfeld’s book "Behind the humanitarian mask"? My guess is that it did.

What Norwegian will be interested in a book about anti-semitism in Norway, edited by an Israeli who insults the entire Norwegian people by calling them "barbaric and uncivilized"?

It now appears that Gerstenfeld never said any such thing. Ilya Meyer, Swedish citizen and former member of Shalom Akshav (Peace Now), claims to have mentioned the comment to Gerstenfeld while interviewing him. Ilya Meyer quotes Gerstenfeld as saying:

"I obviously only take responsibility for what I say in English and not for what is attributed to me in the Norwegian text of the interviewer. I guess he said it in Norwegian because he didn’t have a direct quote from me in the interview which is much longer than the few English sentences he puts in.

What we discussed was the level of the public discourse in Norway which is undoubtedly low as it expressed itself in almost the entire discussion on my book. We also discussed the issue of the secularization of Norway which brings back pagan elements, but I would never make a general and racist statement that all Norwegians are barbarians and unintelligent."

Now if Ilya Meyer is correct, and Ilya Meyer does appear to be a truthful source (check his blog), then what do we have? An Israeli writing a book about anti-semitism in Norway, being quoted for saying something he never said."

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