The UN envoy to the Middle East, Norwegian diplomat Terje Larsen, and his wife Mona Juul - Norway\'s Ambassador to Israel - have both been scolded by their country\'s Foreign Ministry. The Ministry did not like the fact that they had each received $50,000 from the Peres Center for Peace - news of which was revealed by David Bedein in the Israeli weekly Makor Rishon last Friday. The two diplomats did not report the prize and did not pay Norwegian taxes on it. Norwegian papers are reporting that both of the Larsens may be forced to resign from political life as a result. The newspapers also report that the Peres Center received large amounts of money from Norwegian government authorities.
Mr. Odd Hove, editor-in-chief of Dagen, Norway\'s third largest paper, told Arutz 7 today that this is not the first time Terje Larsen has been involved in a tax fraud scheme. Hove said that in 1999 Larsen was forced to step down as a member of the Norwegian government over another tax-related scandal. Hove also condemned the statements Larsen made following his visit to Jenin after Israel concluded Operation Defensive Shield. He added that Larsen \"disqualified himself as an honest broker\" and \"obviously didn\'t understand the importance of Israel\'s right to defend herself [against the Arab terrorist threat].\"
Mr. Odd Hove, editor-in-chief of Dagen, Norway\'s third largest paper, told Arutz 7 today that this is not the first time Terje Larsen has been involved in a tax fraud scheme. Hove said that in 1999 Larsen was forced to step down as a member of the Norwegian government over another tax-related scandal. Hove also condemned the statements Larsen made following his visit to Jenin after Israel concluded Operation Defensive Shield. He added that Larsen \"disqualified himself as an honest broker\" and \"obviously didn\'t understand the importance of Israel\'s right to defend herself [against the Arab terrorist threat].\"