Norwegian Christians Travel to Israel to Apologize for Oslo Process

December 8, 2013

2 min read

‘Touch not Mine anointed ones, and do My prophets no harm.’ (Psalms 105:15)

Norway's delegation pictured in the Knesset with the Knesset Christian Allies Caucus Chair, MK Gila Gamliel and Director, Josh Reinstein. (Photo: Rachel Naparstek)
Norway’s delegation pictured in the Knesset with the Knesset Christian Allies Caucus Chair, MK Gila Gamliel and Director, Josh Reinstein. (Photo: Rachel Naparstek)

A group of roughly 40 Christian representatives from Oslo, Norway came to Knesset to apologize Wednesday on behalf of their communities for the harm caused to Israel by the Oslo Accords, among other things.  The Accords, which were passed in Oslo in 1993 and 1995, initiated the peace negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians and were premised on the idea that Israel would give up land in exchange for peace.

The group presented a formal apology to Deputy Knesset Speaker Gila Gamliel (Likud), the co-chair of the Knesset’s Christian Allies Caucus, who opposed the accords from the beginning.  In addition to the Oslo accords, the apology makes reference to several other discriminatory policies and actions adopted by Norway over the years.

“Forgive us Israel as a nation for the Oslo Agreement dividing up the Land of Israel, for the money from Norway ending up supporting terrorist organizations, for not moving our embassy from Tel Aviv to Israel’s eternal undivided capital Jerusalem, for not standing up to defend Israel in a world with increasing hostility, and for the anti-Semitic and anti-Zionist attitude of politicians and media in Norway,” the apology says.  Other transgressions mentioned include Norway hindering Jews from entering the country until 1851, sending Jews to Nazi death camps during the Holocaust, and rejecting Jews who sought to come to Norway after the war.

The delegation included representatives of 21 different organizations, including those from the indigenous Lapp (Sami) population.  Chairman of the International Christian Embassy in Norway, Doug Aoibind Juliussen, stated, “We Christian leaders in Norway, want to apologize and ask for forgiveness from the Jewish people for Norway’s attitude towards you from the Holocaust through Oslo Accords and until this day.”

The meeting was organized by the International Christian Embassy in Jerusalem.  In addition to MK Gamliel, MK Dov Lipman (Yesh Atid), fellow member of the Christian Allies Caucus, attended.  MK Gamliel said at the end of the event, “As chairman of the caucus, I see at all kinds of international conferences much love from Christians who love Israel. Leaders in Norway come today for the first time to the Israeli Knesset asking forgiveness for a long list of Norwegian involvements against Israel, ranging from the Holocaust through the Oslo accords and donations to terrorist organizations which support the boycott against Israel.”

Gamliel concluded, “I believe it comes from the bottom, and that it will continue in the leadership (on upward). We are on the right path.”

The Chairman of the Knesset caucus to promote relations with Christian communities around the world, Josh Reinstein, told Arutz Sheva at the end of the visit that “the Christian leaders apologize for anti-Semitism… the Oslo agreement, and the boycott Norway supports [against Israel].”

He continued that the process of asking for forgiveness “is just, and there are many more countries which need to ask for forgiveness” and emphasized that the point is not just to apologize, “but to work for the benefit of the State of Israel.”

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