Norway is a driving force when the EU’s foreign ministers meet to discuss a boycott of goods from the settlements in the West Bank. Some countries have already adopted such a boycott, while others are hesitating. Nor has it been clarified whether unanimous support is required. Norway has submitted a proposal advocating a boycott.

Norway is aligned with the most anti-Israeli countries in the EU, such as Slovenia, Spain, the Netherlands and Ireland.

Germany and Italy have yet to decide, and without them no decision can be made.

Which way matters develop also depends on the outcome of the war against the regime in Tehran. If the regime falls, that will also be a defeat for the EU, and Trump and Israel will have the upper hand. But no one in Europe is willing to say that aloud.

The media are waging a shadow war against Trump and Netanyahu.

Espen Barth Eide believes he can define the context himself. That is an illusion.

– The Israeli settlements in Palestine are in violation of international law. They contribute to displacement, extreme violence and a development that makes a peaceful solution impossible. We will prohibit trade with the illegal settlements, Norway’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Espen Barth Eide (Labour Party) said when the Norwegian proposal was presented in June.

Barth Eide believes he can disregard the consequences of 7 October and thereby reveals that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs bases its policy on pure idealism.

The EU has long been divided over its policy towards Israel. Some countries, such as Germany, Israel’s second-largest supplier of weapons, have maintained their support despite a growing number of reports accusing Israel of genocide, apartheid and the ethnic cleansing of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank.

Consultation deadline this autumn

Israel rejects the allegations made by UN-appointed experts and human rights organisations such as Amnesty International , B’Tselem and Human Rights Watch.

The Norwegian bill has a consultation deadline of 19 September.

– The settlements undermine the foundations of the Palestinian state. Norwegian citizens and Norwegian companies must not contribute to maintaining this development, Eide said.

The Oslo process is dead, and the Palestine policy on which Norway is staking its hopes is also doomed. But it creates tensions within Norwegian society, because Muslims believe that the government and the authorities are on their side.

They need only listen to or read the media to see it for themselves.