My guess is that most of what you hear or read about Norway is positive.  Land of the midnight sun, a country where gender equality is a major priority, a place that encourages a healthy lifestyle, environmentally friendly.  Rarely are there negative images of Norway portrayed in the media.  Whaling is definitely one of the very controversial activities Norway engages in.  Another, some will say, is antisemitism.  Based on both historic accounts and current issues, some argue that Norwegians are an antisemitic people.  The foreign minister of Israel is the most recent example of criticism of Norway with regards to antisemitism.  First, a brief history of antisemitism in Norway.

Although the population of Norway is becoming more diverse every day, for most of its history as a people, the population was very homogenous.  As Norway began to encounter mainland Europe through Viking travel, opinions were formed about Jews based on what was said about them.  A bit later on, after the Protestant Reformation settled in Scandinavia, Norway (under the rule of Denmark) adopted religious restrictions, some of which were against the Jews in particular.  In 1814, although Denmark (and thus Norway as well) had recently lifted all bans against Jews, Norwegians gained indepedence from Denmark and actually reinforced the negative treatment of Jews, “banning them from Norway’s borders.” 

Oddly enough, Henrik Wergeland, son of Nikolai Wergeland, a member of the constitutional assembly who strongly supported banning Jews, for years fought to repeal the ban.  In 1851, the ban was repealed.  The younger Wergeland is known to this day as the champion for the Jews in Norway.

Some of you may have read an earlier post about Vidkun Quisling, leader of the national socialist party in Norway, who supported Hitler and Nazism to the fullest extent.  There is no doubt that Hitler had a strong following of Norwegians (whether passive or active) during the Holocaust, but it must be known that there were also many brave Norwegians that actively opposed the Nazi movement and risked their lives to save Jews. 

Today Norway is accused of antisemitism because of her stance on the Arab-Israeli conflict.  Norway supports Palestine.  I will save the bulk of this issue for another post.  So, back to the earlier mention of the most recent criticism of Norway as antisemitic, there is an article in Aftenposten online today titled “Isreals utenriksminister beskylder Norge for antisemittisme” (Israel’s foreign minister accuses Norway of antisemitism).  The reason that prompted this headline is Norway’s celebration of the 150th year since the birth of Nobel winning author Knut Hamsun.  Hamsun is believed to have been a Nazi sympathizer and thus Avigdor Lieberman, Israel’s foreign minister, is appalled that Norway would celebrate such a person.  As you can see, this is certainly a controversial issue.  However, regardless of Knut Hamsun’s political beliefs, he was one hell of an author.  I read his book Sult (hunger) for one of my Norwegian classes and I can say that it was one of the most vivid stories I have ever read.  Absolutely amazing.  I will write a separate post on Knut Hamsun as well. 

What is important to know about antisemitism in Norway, in my opinion, are the reasons for it’s place in Norwegian history, and the many instances of support for Jewish tolerance and cohabitation.  I welcome your comments on this issue!