Kristin Halvorsen, who heads Norway's Socialist Left Party, said that her support for the boycott "may have contributed towards creating uncertainty about Norway's official foreign policy."
"My goal and that of the Socialist Left Party is that Norwegian consumers will avoid goods and services from Israel and make other choices in the stores," Halvorsen was quoted as saying.
"As finance minister," she told Norway's public broadcasting station NRK, "I should not have advocated a policy which is not supported by a majority in the Cabinet. It is clear that this has contributed towards confusion and uncertainty around what is official Norwegian foreign policy. For this I have expressed my regrets to the Foreign Minister, the Prime Minister and the rest of the Government members. And I now express my regrets officially."
The apology was issued after Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom called on Norwegian Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Store to clarify his country’s position. It was explained that while the finance minister and her party may support such a move, it in no way reflects the policy of the Government of Norway.
The call for a boycott had aroused protests in some Jewish circles. Students from a ZOA mission protested outside the Norwegian Embassy in Tel Aviv in response to the boycott call. The Victims of Arab Terror International Organization (VAT) called for a counter-boycott of Norway and its products. The slogan was, "Boycott Norway - Don't Buy, Don't Fly."
Halvorsen's Party is set to begin a solidarity campaign for the Palestinian Authority at the end of the month. The boycott is part of the campaign, aimed at showing the party's "displeasure with Israel's policy towards the Palestinians."
"My goal and that of the Socialist Left Party is that Norwegian consumers will avoid goods and services from Israel and make other choices in the stores," Halvorsen was quoted as saying.
"As finance minister," she told Norway's public broadcasting station NRK, "I should not have advocated a policy which is not supported by a majority in the Cabinet. It is clear that this has contributed towards confusion and uncertainty around what is official Norwegian foreign policy. For this I have expressed my regrets to the Foreign Minister, the Prime Minister and the rest of the Government members. And I now express my regrets officially."
The apology was issued after Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom called on Norwegian Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Store to clarify his country’s position. It was explained that while the finance minister and her party may support such a move, it in no way reflects the policy of the Government of Norway.
The call for a boycott had aroused protests in some Jewish circles. Students from a ZOA mission protested outside the Norwegian Embassy in Tel Aviv in response to the boycott call. The Victims of Arab Terror International Organization (VAT) called for a counter-boycott of Norway and its products. The slogan was, "Boycott Norway - Don't Buy, Don't Fly."
Halvorsen's Party is set to begin a solidarity campaign for the Palestinian Authority at the end of the month. The boycott is part of the campaign, aimed at showing the party's "displeasure with Israel's policy towards the Palestinians."