Norway split over Israel boycott

[LaoSexMachine]

http://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/nol/shared/img/printer_friendly/news_logo.gif
Norway split over Israel boycott
Norway's Finance Minister Kristin Halvorsen is backing a planned consumer boycott of Israeli goods, contradicting the coalition government's policy.
Ms Halvorsen voiced support for a campaign of solidarity with the Palestinians, due to be launched by her Socialist Left party this month.
"It is a long time since I bought any Israeli products," she told Norway's Dagbladet newspaper.
Norway's foreign ministry said such a boycott was not government policy.
Ms Halvorsen insisted she was expressing her party's view and not that of the government. She would not front the campaign, she added.
She gave the interview before Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon suffered a stroke on Wednesday.
Ms Halvorsen's party is a minority partner in a three-party coalition formed after elections in September, alongside the Labour Party and Centre Party.
Last month, the municipality of Soer-Trondelag in central Norway launched a boycott of Israeli goods and services.
A finance ministry spokesman, Runar Malkenes, told the BBC News website that "there are no moves to push for a boycott of Israeli goods" at government level. He said such differences of view were part of coalition politics.

Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/europe/4584738.stm

Published: 2006/01/05 15:17:16 GMT

© BBC MMVI

[kinghk]

Excellent. This is the first time the Socialist Left has been part of the government, and hopefully the last as everyone sees that is more of a circus than a civilised political party.

[Schizo]

What's the opinion of the Norwegians on this forum about this boycott?

[belly]

What's the opinion of the Norwegians on this forum about this boycott?


Thats just some leftish bs coming from a party thats in need of attention.
As for most people i strongly doubt they will support this 'boycott'.

[kineret]

in typical jackass socialist fashion, theyre hurting the palestinians much more than Israel with this dumb boycott. Who do you think works in Israeli farmlands and industrial zones? good going socialist morons.

[Rick Rush]

What needs to be emphasized is that this in no way is or will be the official stance of the Norwegian goverment as long as there are 2 other parties in this coalition.

I believe it was a big mistake bringing the Socialist left party into the coalition. And this was in no way their first screw-up

[kinghk]

Breif update; Halvorsen had to appologize for the statement and admitted that it was incosistent with her role as minister of finance.

Update;

http://gfx.dagbladet.no/pub/artikkel/4/45/454/454093/brevbrev1.jpg
http://gfx.dagbladet.no/pub/artikkel/4/45/454/454093/brevbrev2.jpg