Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu denied Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre's request to visit Israel citing "political reasons", Norway’s Dagens Næringsliv newspaper reported on Saturday.
Støre confirmed the matter to Dagens Næringsliv, saying he was told that "this is not the time” to arrange a visit.
He further explained that the idea to visit Israel came about during his attendance at US President Donald Trump's peace summit in Sharm el-Sheikh in October, and would have included stops in the Palestinian Authority and Jordan.
Støre claimed that the visit was denied due to Norway's support of the International Criminal Court's decisions against Israel, as well as Norway's recognition of a Palestinian state.
"Yes, I think that parts of the Israeli government react in this way towards countries that have expressed opposition to the Gaza warfare and have recognized the Palestinian state," Støre told Dagens Næringsliv.
Israeli sources also confirmed the rejection of the visit to Dagens Næringsliv.
“There’s no reason to approve a visit by Norway’s prime minister in light of Norway’s conduct since October 7," a source familiar with the matter told Ynet. "Still, in the long run, they’ll have a role ‘the day after’. Not because we want them to, but because the Americans won’t ask us, and they’ll want Norwegian funding.”
Støre attends anti-Israel Kristallnacht event
Most recently, Støre chose to attend an anti-Zionist, Kristallnacht event run by the Anti-Racism Centre, a nonprofit organization that has accused Israel of genocide. It is one in a group of several organizations that receive state funding to combat antisemitism.
“Støre chose to participate in a ceremony that turned a horrific episode of the murder and persecution of Jews – the anniversary of Kristallnacht (the Night of Broken Glass) – into a weapon against the Jewish state, Israelis, and Jews,” Israel’s Foreign Ministry said.
“This is an affront to the memory of the Holocaust’s victims – especially to the more than 750 Norwegian Jews who were deported and murdered by the Nazis and their local collaborators,” it continued.
Mathilda Heller contributed to this report.