Saturday 2 October 2010

Norway: F.M. Støre stops Israeli submarine testing in Norway'

"Only Israel is singled out, time and time again, for this kind of special treatment."

Source: Norway, Israel and the Jews

NRK today reports that Norway is refusing to allow German submarines, intended for Israeli, to be tested in Norwegian waters. NRK writes: "MFA’s resolution is a marked tightening of Norway’s politics versus Israel". Meanwhile FM Jonas Gahr Støre argues that this has little to do with Israel, and everything to do with Norwegian restrictions on selling arms and services to countries in war or in warlike situations.

Which is the correct interpretation?

If one looks at only this one situation regarding the submarine-testing, F.M. Støre might arguably be said to have a point. Norway has imposed upon herself amazingly strict restrictions on the sales of arms and services, in spite of which we still manage to export a massive amount of arms and services.

If one looks at a broader range of Norway-Israel issues, one finds that the former's relations to the latter is quite unique. Only Israel is singled out, time and time again, for this kind of special treatment. For examples, study the posts in the following category: boycott.

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