Amazing, isn’t it, how the anti-Israel virus shows up everywhere on our giddy globe, even in places where you thought there was still a sooterkins of decency. Take, for example, Norway, the land of fjords and fårikål, but also, let’s remember, the land of Vidkun Quisling, the Nazi collaborator, and of Roald Dahl, the kindly children’s book writer who turned out to be a furious antisemite. Now Norway, or rather the Norwegian soccer team, has disgraced itself by calling for Israel, the tiny state fighting a four-front war for its survival, to be booted out of world soccer. More of this wretched tale can be found here: “Norway’s other World Cup campaign: Getting Israel kicked out of soccer,” by Zoha Qamar, Politico, July 11, 2026:
Norway stands out among the historic European powers that dominate what remains of the World Cup. It has the skimpiest soccer heritage of the bunch — with a 28-year break since its last visit to the tournament — and the strongest political agenda: a continued fight to boot Israel from international soccer.
Norway’s trip to this World Cup ran through Israel, which has competed for one of Europe’s tournament slots since 1994, when boycotts from Arab and Muslim countries made it impossible for the Middle Eastern country to continue competing in the Asian Football Confederation.
When the two countries faced off in Oslo last October in a qualifying match, the Norwegian Football Federation announced that all proceeds would be donated to relief aid in Gaza. Palestinian flags, keffiyehs paired with viking hats and a massive “Let Children Live” banner swept the stands. Fans booed the playing of Israel’s national anthem.
But the Norwegian federation’s primary instrument is not advocacy from its team or fan base, but institutional pressure through federation standing and procedural respectability — an instinct reflecting the nation’s overall style and befitting its disproportionately large role at the United Nations.
Norway has been in the middle of Middle Eastern politics for a while. In 1978, the Camp David Accords set Israel on course to surrender the Sinai Peninsula and its oil fields, just before the Iranian Revolution upended regional energy politics. The United States pressed Norway to supply oil to Israel, which it did only after clearing the idea with Palestine Liberation Organization Chair Yasser Arafat, who saw the value of a Scandinavian back channel to Israeli leaders.
Norway’s tact turned itself into a distinctive intermediary: a small, energy-rich state with few Middle East ambitions of its own, clout in Washington, trust among Israelis and rapport with Palestinians. In the 1990s, the country hosted the negotiations that generated the Oslo Accords, the most significant diplomatic breakthrough toward a lasting peace. As talks failed and Israel’s occupation of Gaza and the West Bank deepened over the early 2000s, Norway pulled back from Israel.
What Israeli “occupation” of Gaza in the 2000s? There was no such occupation at that time. Every single Israeli had been pulled out of Gaza in 2005. As for the West Bank (known for three millennia as Judea and Samaria, until Jordan changed the name to the “West Bank” in 1950 in order to efface the Jewish connection to the land), it is not “occupied” territory. For 3500 years, Jews have lived there, and that history explains why the League of Nations included Judea and Samaria in the territory assigned to the Mandate for Palestine, which was intended to become the Jewish state.
This display of moral idiocy makes me want to put my hands over my ears, to block out the ambient noise and to scream, just as the figure in the most famous painting by the most famous Norwegian artist, Edvard Munch, does. Or to answer those Norwegian enemies of the Jewish people with the last two words Henrik Ibsen spoke, when on his deathbed on May 22, 1906. He said, in response to a comment made by his nurse to a visitor that he, Ibsen, was doing much better: “Tvertimod,” which means “on the contrary.” Yes, to those Norwegians trying to get Israel’s soccer team banned, I respond, and I suspect you will too, dear reader, “on the contrary.”
somehistory says
Israel and whichever nations can show some kind of human decency, could have their own competitions and purposely ban those which show their evil insides.
It might be a small club of nations. But it would be exclusive and holding ethics as important. Shut the door in the faces of those courting islime.
Bean🫘 says
They are under presssure, all the European nations by their Islamic voters, who are very active politically.
Not one sent any proceeds to the victims of October 7, only for Palestinians, a wink and nod reward to the Muslims for October 7.
The Europeans, they are overwhelmingly pro Palestinian and anti Israel, with a very strong contingent of anti Jewish outright. The white people are out of control not only the inbred mentally ill muslims.
I have seen countless videos of Jewish families harassed all over Europe, denied service, and it is the whites who are trying to impress the Muslims nearby usually the ring leaders. It is so pathetic and shameful. The Muslims are destroying their countries. What is Israel doing to you?
࿗Infidel࿘ says
Israel should compete in the Asian part of ⚽ and other international sporting events. As it is, the boycott of them that was once epidemic has eroded, and also, people in Asia – from Japan to the Philippines to India – are not at all hostile to either Jews nor Israel. On top of all that, they’d have a better chance of qualifying, than in the European leagues, and Maccabi Tel Aviv fans wouldn’t have to fear thugs in Asia the way they do in Europe
All that is independent of any European heritage of enough Israelis
Cynthia says
Asia is also affected by Islam and its billions of dollars invested in propaganda.
Besides oil, they couldn’t have been given a bigger gift than social media.
The poisoning of clueless minds is on a constant loop.
ploome says
talking about “islamic investment”
Trumo is so proud of the billions and trillions he has facilitated Arab/muslim investment in America….
I think that is very dangerous. With their money invested comes greater presence and more effective influence.
Why strengthen the muslims economies and provide them more income? Where else can they invest their unearned wealth?
America is the best and most secure place for their investment money….we should not allow them the opportunity to gain that,
DavidW says
I’m glad their fellow muslim country, England, defeated them in the World Cup.
Rufolino says
Before mass immigration it used to be said (but not anymore because it’s “racist”) that Scandinavians from Norway & Sweden were the most beautiful people in the world.
The Norwegian soccer team apparently look like gangsters.
Or is this just me ? It’s just me.
࿗Infidel࿘ says
A lot of European soccer teams these days look more representative of North Africa than Europe
Edward Brennan says
I’m Irish, and I see our own Gobshites for Gaza football “fans”, siding with those who would kill nus all, just because,,,,,, eh,,, the Jews and,, stuff.
Most have no idea of the history of the Jews, as well as no idea of the non-history of the ‘falsetinians’.
Ban Islam in the West.
WPM says
Remember a time when politics did not enter organized sports ? Why do western nations seem dead set in every area with blaming the “Jews” for everything wrong in the world at every large event .It could be a sporting event ,a large pop music concert ,places that in the past people attended or watch and listen to ,to get away from political propaganda ? Why does a “thing” Islam that professes it hate towards Christian Jewish traditions and laws that made the west so great gets to spread it propaganda at most large scale events in the western world ?How long will western leaders keep riding the tiger of jihadist before the tiger turns on them eats them ?Will they act surprised when it happens?
ploome says
you ask;
“Will they act surprised when it happens?”
I suspect they will blame the Jews
WPM says
Right earth quakes ,tidal wave ,so called global warming ,war ,famine ,all blame on the Jews .If they where so all powerful how come over history thousands of pogroms killed millions of them ,if they where powerful those programs would not have happen right ?The last large scale one was less then 90 years ago in western and Eastern Europe by Germany. Now the western world is importing millions of the most anti-Semitics people of the world Moslems .Not just antisemitic ,but anti-Christian thinking they can appease them into being peaceful productive assimilated “western citizens”? They are so shocked that Moslems still hate them no how much free stuff they give them .They are shocked that the Moslems follow the instructions in their religious cult books to the letter of sharia law.
gravenimage says
Norway Wants to Kick Israel Out of World Soccer
………………………………………..
Israel is already hampered because she has to play European countries–which are generally very good–instead of the countries in her part of the world. Islamic countries will not play with her. I think *they* should be ousted for poor sportsmanship.
Beans says
Did Norway want to kick out Iran for shooting its own citizens in the streets? What about Saudi Arabia when they killed civilians in Yemen? What about China and their death camps? What about Pakistan murdering Christian’s? What about ….. yes you get the point
The answer is because they’re after the Jews, and they would love a pat on the head by their masters, the Muslims. Possibly the Pope as well would love to isolate Israel and give the Islamists a global boost. Maybe the pope would also love to see some Christians genocided as well.