Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg told Israeli President Shimon that she opposes calls in Norway for a boycott of Israeli products, urging increased trade between the two countries.
Solberg met with the visiting Israeli president on Tuesday in the framework of his state visit.
The visit, the first by an Israeli head of state to Norway, was aimed at improving the relations between the two countries. Norwegian-Israeli relations have soured over the past decade as Norway's left-leaning governments took a critical stance against Israel. Unlike many Western countries, Norway refused to list Gaza's Islamic Hamas rulers as terrorists, and the government's rich oil fund has divested shares in companies accused of contributing to building Israeli homes in Judea and Samaria (West Bank).
But since coming to power after elections last year, the Conservative Prime Minister vowed to change the country’s policy towards Israel.
“At our meeting we discussed the potential for increased trade,” Solberg told reporters. “The Norwegian government will resume negotiations on research and development with Israel. I’m certain our two countries can work well together.”
But she also said that Norway views the Israeli settlements as a ‘’violation of international law and a hindrance to the peace process.’’
She told reporters that she took that up with Peres in their morning meeting.
Peres stated that Israel can’t afford to leave the West Bank. He said the Israeli government fears the same thing will happen on the West Bank that happened in Gaza, where Palestinians have launched “several thousand rockets into Israel.”