The matter in summary: FRP politician Torbjørn Nilsen published a Facebook post in which he compares the Palestinian flag with the Nazi flag. He later deleted the post on Wednesday afternoon. Former parliamentary representative for the Labor Party and now SV’s Freddy de Ruiter, reacts strongly to the post and thinks Nilsen should delete it and apologise. Nilsen stands by the comparison and says that he finds the Palestinian flag as provocative as the Nazi one. Amina Bitar (SV), who has a Palestinian background and is the leader of the upbringing and culture committee in Arendal municipality, believes the post is unprofessional. Nilsen emphasizes that he does not label all Palestinians as Nazis, but those who support Hamas and what happened on 7 October. De Ruiter believes there is a big difference between Nilsen’s post and his own criticism of Israel’s policies and acts of war. The summary is made by an AI service from OpenAi. The content is quality assured by news’s journalists before publication. – Labeling Palestinians as Nazis is outrageous, says former parliamentary representative for the Labor Party Freddy de Ruiter from Arendal. He is one of several who reacted to the Facebook post city council representative in Arendal Torbjørn Nilsen (Frp) posted on Monday evening. Nilsen shared a photo with the Palestinian flag and the Nazi flag, with the accompanying text “same shit different name”, which roughly translates to “same shit different names.” De Ruiter thought the politician should delete the post and apologise. – It is disappointing and sad that Norwegian politicians can sink so deeply into the situation Palestinians are in now, where thousands of people have been killed in Gaza, says de Ruiter. Nilsen’s response to this when news first spoke to him on Tuesday was: – It is sad that people cannot give greater support for Israel’s defense in the incredibly difficult situation they have been forced into, he says. On Wednesday afternoon, the post was deleted. Nilsen writes in an SMS to news that the reason is that the post received too much local focus in Arendal. – It is international politics and has little to do with local politics. I have not changed my view that very many so-called Palestinians in Gaza support the Nazis’ positions for the extermination of Jews, he writes. – It is important for me to make it clear that I completely distance myself from Nazism and similar attitudes that put Jews in mortal danger. Was responsible for the post The Facebook post with the flags has received both criticism and likes. Nilsen only said when news spoke to him that he stands by the comparison, and that he finds the Palestinian flag as provocative as the Nazi flag. – It is because they have the same thoughts about what they want to do with the Jews. They wanted to wipe out Israel. He adds: – I don’t label all Palestinians as Nazis, but everyone who supports Hamas and what happened on 7 October, as Nazis. Therefore, Palestinians should distance themselves from what has happened. Torbjørn Nilsen (Frp) is responsible for the post he posted on Facebook on Monday evening. Photo: Svein Sundsdal / news – My heart sank in my stomach Nilsen sits on the education and culture committee in Arendal municipality. The leader of the committee is Amina Bitar (SV), who has a Palestinian background. – My heart sank a little in my stomach when I saw it. We have cooperated well on other matters and have a good working environment between us, says Bitar. She believes the post is unprofessional, and is concerned about the standard you set as a city council politician if you use this comparison method. Nilsen points out that this is not about local politics. – This is national and international politics, and as a private person you are allowed to express yourself about international politics, he says. Amina Bitar (SV) was surprised when she saw the post that her colleague had shared on Facebook. Photo: Nordisk Film TV/news – Posted for a reason Bitar hopes that his colleague will reflect on what he has posted. – Because you disagree on a political matter, and or actually have a country background from Palestine? Does that mean that by virtue of my Palestinian ID documents I am a Nazi?, she asks. Bitar says it is not certain that Nilsen has thought through the consequences. Nilsen was initially clear that he did not want to distance himself from the post. – I have posted it for a reason, he said when news spoke to him on Tuesday. – Wouldn’t it have been better for the wording to be more factual instead of using this comparison? – It doesn’t matter that some people who have a lot of sympathy for the Palestinians see that there are actually others who have a completely different opinion of them, Nilsen said then. – Do you realize that people can be offended by such a picture? – Yes, if they have an image that Palestinians and Hamas are wonderful people who only want peace and tolerance, then I understand. But now it’s not like that. They only want war and misery. Nilsen emphasizes that he has nothing against either Bitar or de Ruiter. Pointing back Nilsen points back to Freddy de Ruiter, and believes that the SV himself has posted posts and comments on Facebook that show hatred towards Israel and what Israel is doing in the Gaza Strip. De Ruiter says it’s just fluff. – It must be allowed to criticize politics and the cruel acts of war the Israeli authorities have carried out for six months now, without being accused of being anti-Semitic, says de Ruiter. Nilsen refers to a post de Ruiter posted on 28 May this year. This post was posted by Freddy de Ruiter on Facebook on 28 May this year. Photo: Screenshot from Facebook De Ruiter believes this is very different from Nilsen’s post about the flags. – Nilsen compares the Palestinian flag with the Nazi flag and more or less labels Palestinians as Nazis or sympathizers of Nazism. What I am posting is a criticism of Israel’s ongoing policy and now the war on Gaza. It is unfair criticism and generalization versus political criticism, says de Ruiter. He emphasizes that he has strongly distanced himself from all attacks on civilians. Assessing consequences Assistant general secretary of the FRP, Helge Fossum, writes in an SMS to news that Nilsen’s post does not reflect the party. – No, this is not in line with the party’s stance. – Will the post have any consequences for Nilsen? – We are considering that more closely now, he writes. news has tried to get hold of Anders Kylland, who is group leader of the FRP’s municipal council group in Arendal. He further refers to county leader Steinar Bergstøl Andersen. He has not responded to news’s inquiries. Helge Fossum responds on behalf of the Frp leadership that the post is not in line with the party’s positions. Photo: FRP Published 12.06.2024, at 18.03
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Nazi flag compared to the Palestinian flag – news Sørlandet – Local news, TV and radio
