A 2012 report examining Norway’s ties to the Israeli occupation, demonstrating how Norwegian authorities and companies, through financial investments and trade, are involved in activities that contribute to Israel’s breaches of international law and human rights.
Category Archives: Norway
Norwegian government divests from Israeli military company
In 2009, the Norwegian government pension fund, the biggest sovereign wealth fund, announced it was divesting from Elbit Systems, Israel’s biggest military company. The announcement followed a determined campaign over Elbit’s role in the construction of Israel’s illegal apartheid wall and the manufacture of drones.
In 2014, the fund divested from Africa Israel and Danya Cebus over their role in the construction of illegal Israeli settlements.
Also in 2014, the Luxembourg state pension fund announced in 2014 that it was state pension fund FDC has excluded nine major Israeli banks and firms and one US company because of their involvement in Israeli settlements and human rights violations in the occupied Palestinian territories.
The Sweden AP national pension fund has divested from Elbit Systems and has called on Motorola Solutions, Veolia and Alstom to end their role in Israel’s occupation of the West Bank.
New Zealand’s $20 billion national pension fund has divested from three Israeli companies because of their direct involvement in building settlements and the annexation wall.
Norway refuses to sell weapons to Israel
Following pressure and protests from Palestine solidarity activists including church and youth groups, the Labor government announced the arms embargo. Israel-bound submarines are also no longer allowed to undergo tests in Norwegian territory.
Norway stands firmly on the embargo, with current Foreign Minister Borge Brende saying in 2013: „We don’t see any immediate reason to change the current policy on weapons exports to Israel.“
Former Finance Minister Kristin Halvorsen also called for an international boycott of arms trade.
While direct sales of weapons to countries engaged in armed conflict including Israel is prohibited by Norwegian law, Nammo Talley, the US-based subsidiary of a Norwegian government owned company has been shown to be selling anti-tank rocket launchers and explosive armor-piercing bullets to the Israeli military.