– I think it’s very scary. I have never felt unsafe as a Jew in Norway before, but I do now. That’s what Hannah Dubowski (21) says to news. She works as a Jewish guide. This means that she travels around schools and tells about what it is like to be Jewish in Norway, about religion, identity, prejudices and stereotypes. – Right now I feel that being Jewish and having a connection to Israel provokes others. And it is very difficult. In a press release on Monday, DMT wrote that Jewish people and families in Norway have experienced several threatening incidents and acts of vandalism in recent days. They also write that they see a lot of Norwegian-language anti-Semitic content in social media, and that one has seen references to traditional anti-Jewish stereotypes in the media. They call the situation “a warning, not just for our minority, but for democracy in Norway.” – I am more vigilant, and I know of several people who have taken off the Star of David. They are afraid to show that they are Jewish, says Dubowski. – One should be able to express solidarity with Israel without being met with hatred, says Hannah Dubowski. Photo: Amanda Iversen Orlich / news Increased anti-Semitism in Europe And it is not only in Norway that there are reports of more Jew-hatred and anti-Semitism as a result of the war between Israel and Hamas. The Metropolitan Police in London wrote to news that between 1 and 18 October 218 anti-Semitic offenses were registered in their area. This is an increase of 1,353 per cent from the same period in 2022. Then 15 anti-Semitic offenses were registered. Furthermore, they write that, as a result of the situation, they have increased security around religious schools and synagogues. Anti-Semitism is also more visible in France. On Tuesday morning, the residents of the 14th arrondissement woke up to find that 60 stars of David had been affixed to buildings. The authorities say that this is similar to “events from the 1930s which led to the extermination of millions of Jews”. According to the BBC, France is struggling with increasing anti-Semitism. Since the war between Israel and Hamas broke out following the attack by Hamas on 7 October, more than 850 anti-Semitic offenses have been registered in France, according to Interior Minister Gerald Darmain. Figures from the Anti-Demafion League (ADL) show that anti-Semitism has increased in several places in Europe, including in Germany, Austria and Belgium. According to the ADL, this is expressed through the destruction of Israeli flags, vandalism of Jewish monuments, anti-Semitic graffiti and threats. Negative attitudes towards Jews Dubowski says that they talk a lot about putting people in booths and how it affects society when they are out talking to school pupils. – And I’m experiencing that now. That many Jews are placed in booths. Dubowski believes that there are only 1,500–2,000 Jews in Norway, and that many Norwegians have never met a Jewish person. – When the impression is then based on prejudice, conspiracy theories, stereotypes and the conflict in the Middle East, it does not paint a good picture, and can in itself lead to anti-Semitism. Last year, the HL center came up with a report on attitudes towards Jews and Muslims in Norway. The report also states that 1 in 10 Jews have experienced harassment during the past 12 months. Vibeke Moe is a researcher at the HL center and has led the research. She says that there is a connection between anti-Semitic and anti-Israeli attitudes: People with anti-Israeli attitudes more often than in the general population also have anti-Semitic attitudes, she explains. Vibeke Moe is Researcher II at the HL Centre, and has led the work on the report on attitudes towards Jews and Muslims in Norway. Photo: HL-senteret / HL-senteret Hiding Jewish identity The survey also revealed that 7 out of 10 Norwegian Jews hide their Jewish identity for fear of negative reactions. – Increased pressure in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is an important reason for that, says Moe. That Norwegian Jews Dubowski knows have now taken off religious symbols such as the Star of David is therefore not special, and was widespread before the conflict in the Middle East reached the boiling point earlier this month. Moe further says that the HL center has good contact with the Jewish community in Norway, and that they experience being under pressure. – Some are afraid. They experience harassment and feel that Israel’s actions have a lot to say about how they are met. They still have a feeling of being held collectively responsible, says Moe. The HL center’s survey The report from 2022 is based on a three-part survey. 1. A survey of anti-Semitic and anti-Muslim attitudes in a representative sample of the Norwegian population. 2. A minority survey between Jews and Muslims in Norway about their attitudes and experiences. 3. A survey of attitudes among young people. Here are some of the findings: Negative attitudes towards Jews have become less widespread in Norway in the last 10 years The dislike of Jews and the desire for social distance, i.e. having a Jew as a neighbor or in the friend crisis, is less now than in 2017. The prevalence of prejudice against Jews has remained stable over the past 5 years. 1 in 10 in the population sample believes that considering how “Israel treats the Palestinians” one can defend harassment and violence against Jews. 9.3 per cent of the population sample have what the researchers refer to as “pronounced prejudice” against Jews. The population sample consists of 1,653 respondents. Dubowski says that she stands with Israel and Israel’s right to fight against Hamas. At the same time, she is aware that one can be critical of the way this is done. – I am saddened by the civilian casualties in Gaza. But we should not be met with hatred when we believe that Israel has the right to defend itself after the terrorist attack on 7 October, she says and adds: – I am afraid to tell others what I feel. It should not be necessary to distance oneself from Israel in order to gain understanding and sympathy. Strong reactions On Wednesday morning, Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre heard about Dubowski and Natalie Preminger’s experiences. He is clear that the Jews, like everyone else, should be safe in Norway. – We must listen when these signposts travel around and talk about being Jewish. We must listen to history, he says to news. Støre points to the fact that anti-Semitism exists in the population, in the fabric of opinions in our society. – We have to be on our guard against that, as it can lead to discrimination and violence. The Prime Minister praised the road guides and DMT for sharing their experiences. He emphasized that the government has action plans against anti-Semitism and that type of attitude, and that this is something they must stick to. Several other politicians have also reacted to DMT’s press release. Among other party leaders Sylvi Listhaug (Frp) and Kjersti Bergstø (SV). They call the content of the press release frightening and unacceptable. The police have increased security around Jewish interests in Oslo and Trondheim. Here is the synagogue in Oslo. Photo: Earl Fr. Erichsen / SCANPIX Threats against Jewish targets intensify. Municipal and District Minister Erling Sande (Sp) also takes a very serious view of the situation described by the Mosaic Community of Faith (DMT). The day after the Hamas attack on Israel on 7 October, the police in Oslo chose to increase security around the Israeli embassy, the synagogue and other meeting points. The police also increased their presence around the synagogue in Trondheim. The Oslo police say to news that they have a good dialogue with DMT. – We are following developments, and will adjust our measures in line with the situation, says Chief of Staff Harald Nilssen from the Oslo police district. He further says that, as of now, no particular development has been registered in the number of reports to the police related to this. Muslim Dialogue Network: – Zero tolerance for hate At PST’s press conference on Tuesday, head of the counter-terrorism department Lars Lilleby says that the threat picture in Norway will not change as a result of the conflict in the Middle East. On the other hand, the threat against Jewish and Israeli targets has intensified. Head of the counter-terror department in PST Lars Lilleby. Photo: Ole Berg-Rusten / NTB Muslim Dialogue Network reacts to the anti-Semitism many Jews now experience. – We have zero tolerance for hatred, regardless of whether it is directed at Jews or Muslims, says a board member of the Muslim Dialogue Network. Board member of the Muslim Dialogue Network. Photo: Fouad Acharki / news He goes on to say that they have worked a lot against anti-Semitism, and that everyone must take clear responsibility and condemn when injustice happens.
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Concern for increasing hatred of Jews in Norway – news Norway – Overview of news from various parts of the country
