Kåre Willoch
Encyclopedia
Kåre Isaachsen Willoch (ˈkɔːɾə ˈiːsaksən ˈʋɪlɔk; born 3 October 1928 in Oslo
) is a Norwegian
politician from the Conservative Party. He served as Minister of Trade and Shipping
in 1963 and 1965–1970, and as Prime Minister of Norway
from 1981 to 1986. Willoch was Chairman of the Conservative Party 1970–1974.
He since has held the offices of Governor of Akershus
(1989–1998) and Chairman of NRK (1998–2000).
Willoch graduated as an economist (cand. oecon.) from the University of Oslo
. He served in the Norwegian Brigade
that formed part of the Allied occupation in Schleswig-Holstein
, Germany
, after World War II
, and became a dedicated friend of Germany during that time.
He speaks Norwegian, English, German and French, and has published a number of books.
, and took examen artium
in 1947. After that, he studied economics at the University of Oslo
, where he was taught by the Nobel Prize winners Trygve Haavelmo
and Ragnar Frisch. He graduated with the cand.oecon.
degree in 1953. Since 1951, Willoch was a member of the Oslo city council, and in 1954 he became a deputy in the Parliament of Norway. He became a member of parliament after the 1957 parliamentary election
, and was with 29 years the then youngest MP.
On 30 April 1954, he married Anne Marie Jørgensen.
Within the Conservative Party, Willoch was respected for his command of the issues and consistent ideological platform. In spite of friendly rivalry with Erling Norvik
, Rolf Presthus
, and Jan P. Syse
, these and other party members led a political shift in Norway away from the social democratic legacy.
Willoch was first elected to the Norwegian parliament at the age of 29 in 1957, representing Oslo
. He was to be elected in every parliamentary election until 1989.
He was appointed Minister of Trade in the short-lived but notable John Lyng
cabinet from August to September 1963, following the Kings Bay Affair
that brought to an end to the uninterrupted chain of Labor governments after World War II, headed by Einar Gerhardsen
and Oscar Torp
.
He was appointed to the same ministerial post in the government of Per Borten
in 1965-1970. He stepped down from this post to become first the Parliamentary leader, and then chairman of the Conservative Party 1970-1974.
In 1973, he unified his party in opposition to the newly introduced restrictions on use of land. This formed a watershed in Norwegian politics, in that the party adopted a stronger ideological alternative to the social democratic establishment that had dominated post-World War II politics. Some historians, notably Francis Sejersted
attribute this in large part to the Norwegian Labour Party
's exuberant continuation of social democratic efforts.
Willoch served as the leader of the Foreign Affairs committee in the coalition government and from then until he retired from parliament in 1989.
As a member of the Borten government he faced the constitutional question of the marriage of the then Crown Prince Harald to a commoner, Sonja Haraldsen. (They married in 1968 and since 1991 have been king and queen). Willoch is reported to have never considered opposing the union.
Most of Willoch's political career was spent in opposition to various Labour governments. His rhetorical style was characterized by conservative use of language
and carefully articulated viewpoints that many considered cold or even sarcastic. His debates with long-time adversary Gro Harlem Brundtland
became legendary in Norway and were by several accounts based on personal as well as political differences. Brundtland wrote in her memoirs that she learned from Willoch "how not to treat people, or parties."
. The cabinet depended on the support of the Christian Democrats
and Centre Party
, and in 1983 these joined the cabinet to become a coalition government.
When Braathens SAFE Flight 139
was hijacked, the hijacker demanded to speak with Willoch.
By the parliamentary elections of 1985
, Willoch's cabinet had lost much of its parliamentary basis and was dependent on the Progress party
for support. The cabinet lost a vote of no-confidence over Willoch's proposal to increase surcharges on gasoline, when the Socialist Left Party, Labour Party, and Progress party joined forces. A minority government led by Gro Harlem Brundtland
took over through the rest of the parliamentary period.
In spite of difficult parliamentary conditions, the Willoch cabinet embarked on a series of reforms that to many seemed like reversals of long-standing social democratic reforms, and to others changes that reflected new and emerging economic realities.
Often cited changes include:
The Willoch government's foreign policy was largely consistent with those of prior Labour party cabinets in terms of Norwegian commitments under the NATO treaty, but deviated sharply on the issue of non-proliferation. Where the Labour Party promoted a reduction of tensions in the Nordic region, the Willoch cabinet approved forward logistical bases for American rapid deployment forces and lent full support to the NATO double track decision
of 1979.
Willoch came under criticism for not acting sooner to stop the activities of politician and career diplomat Arne Treholt
, who was arrested in 1984 and convicted of treason
and espionage
in favor of the Soviet Union
and Iraq
.
Willoch earned a reputation as a sharp-witted, sometimes acerbic politician. During his years in parliament and in various governments, he was respected by his political allies and opponents alike, but never gained the popularity of other prime ministers in his time in office.
and Akershus
from 1989 to 1998. From 1998 to 2000 he was chairman of NRK, the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation
. He was also director of the Nansen Institute
. Since 1986, he has been deputy chairman of the International Democrat Union
(IDU), and he has been President of the Deutsch-Norwegische Gesellschaft (German-Norwegian Society).
Considered one of the most pronounced conservative Norwegian politicians in his time, he has in later years shifted his position in many areas. He has taken issue with the "culture of greed", "tax paradises', the environment and has been particularly harsh in his condemnation of Israel's policies toward Palestinians, claiming that the occupation of and settlement on Palestinian land (outside the 1967 borders) is unlawful. Though widely respected for his activism and argumentative style, he has also received criticism from several commentators, for example for accusing the country of "ethnic cleansing," and for saying it is "creating terror" by cultivating extremism "as if in a greenhouse in the Palestinian areas". One of the critics, his long-time friend and party colleague Jo Benkow
, commented that "On this topic, Willoch must be the most partisan public person in this country.". Willoch has also stated that, though "there are strong reasons to warn against the new antisemitism, it will not strengthen Israel's cause to accuse critics of Israeli politics of antisemitism". He also claims that Israel indirectly contributes to New antisemitism stating that "It would be naive to ignore that Israel's politics towards the Palestinians has become a new source of negative attitudes." In May 2006, Willoch invited Atef Adwan
, an official in Hamas
to a private luncheon at Det Norske Selskab, commenting that "A dialogue with Hamas is very useful." an action that prompted criticism by fellow Conservative party member and former foreign minister Jan Petersen
.
In an op ed in the newspaper Aftenposten
Willoch summarized his views on the Israeli politics towards the Palestinians. He warned that "Those who defend the Israeli politics towards the Palestinians support a policy that generates a hatred that may lead to a disaster for Israel" and concluded that "Friends of Israel should seek to make Israel accept the Arab peace proposal. It demands, amongst other things, borders as before the war of 1967, only with such adjustments that the parties reach agreement upon, and guarantees for Israel's security."
Willoch has been accused of outright Antisemitism in the Wall Street Journal, after commenting on Barack Obama's appointment of Rahm Emanuel
: "It does not look too promising, he has chosen a chief of staff who is Jewish." Alan M. Dershowitz sharply criticized Willoch for this remark, arguing that "Mr. Willock didn't know anything about Mr. Emanuel's views - he based his criticism on the sole fact that Mr. Emanuel is a Jew."
Regarding Cablegate, he stated that "the problem is that the Western world
is violating Human rights
, not that someone is uncovering those violations".
In 1996, Willoch was decorated as a Commander with Star of the Order of St. Olav.
Oslo
Oslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...
) is a Norwegian
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
politician from the Conservative Party. He served as Minister of Trade and Shipping
Minister of Trade and Shipping (Norway)
The Norwegian Minister of Trade and Shipping is a defunct minister who was head of the Norwegian Ministry of Trade and Shipping between 6 December 1947 and 1 January 1988 when it was merged with the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The function of trade has since been transferred to the...
in 1963 and 1965–1970, and as Prime Minister of Norway
Prime Minister of Norway
The Prime Minister of Norway is the political leader of Norway and the Head of His Majesty's Government. The Prime Minister and Cabinet are collectively accountable for their policies and actions to the Sovereign, to Stortinget , to their political party, and ultimately the...
from 1981 to 1986. Willoch was Chairman of the Conservative Party 1970–1974.
He since has held the offices of Governor of Akershus
Akershus
- Geography :The county is conventionally divided into the traditional districts Follo and Romerike, which fill the vast part of the county, as well as the small exclave west of Oslo that consists of Asker and Bærum...
(1989–1998) and Chairman of NRK (1998–2000).
Willoch graduated as an economist (cand. oecon.) from the University of Oslo
University of Oslo
The University of Oslo , formerly The Royal Frederick University , is the oldest and largest university in Norway, situated in the Norwegian capital of Oslo. The university was founded in 1811 and was modelled after the recently established University of Berlin...
. He served in the Norwegian Brigade
Independent Norwegian Brigade Group in Germany
The Independent Norwegian Brigade Group in Germany was a Norwegian expeditionary force stationed first in the Hanover area and from 1948 to 1953 in the Schleswig Holstein area of Germany as part of the British occupying force after World War II.-Background:...
that formed part of the Allied occupation in Schleswig-Holstein
Schleswig-Holstein
Schleswig-Holstein is the northernmost of the sixteen states of Germany, comprising most of the historical duchy of Holstein and the southern part of the former Duchy of Schleswig...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, after World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, and became a dedicated friend of Germany during that time.
He speaks Norwegian, English, German and French, and has published a number of books.
Early life
Willoch was born on 3 October 1928 to Haakon Isaachsen Willoch (1896–1955) and his wife Agnes Christine Saure (1895–1994). He grew up in the West End of OsloEast End and West End of Oslo
The East End and West End are used as names for the two parts of Oslo, Norway, formed by the economic and social separation line that has historically passed along the street Uelands gate...
, and took examen artium
Examen artium
Examen artium was the name of the academic certification conferred in Denmark and Norway, qualifying the student for admission to university studies. Examen artium was originally introduced as the entrance exam of the University of Copenhagen in 1630...
in 1947. After that, he studied economics at the University of Oslo
University of Oslo
The University of Oslo , formerly The Royal Frederick University , is the oldest and largest university in Norway, situated in the Norwegian capital of Oslo. The university was founded in 1811 and was modelled after the recently established University of Berlin...
, where he was taught by the Nobel Prize winners Trygve Haavelmo
Trygve Haavelmo
Trygve Magnus Haavelmo , born in Skedsmo, Norway, was an influential economist with main research interests centered on the fields of econometrics and economics theory. During World War II he worked with Nortraship in the Statistical Department in New York City. He received his Ph.D...
and Ragnar Frisch. He graduated with the cand.oecon.
Cand.oecon.
Candidatus oeconomices or Candidata oeconomices , often abbreviated cand.oecon. is an academic degree in economics at Danish and Norwegian universities. It is roughly equivalent to a Master of Economics, but it consists of 4+2 years, and was based on a four year cand.mag.. The degree was replaced...
degree in 1953. Since 1951, Willoch was a member of the Oslo city council, and in 1954 he became a deputy in the Parliament of Norway. He became a member of parliament after the 1957 parliamentary election
Norwegian parliamentary election, 1957
A general election to the Storting, the parliament of Norway, was held on 7 October 1957. The election was a victory for the Labour Party, and Gerhardsen's Third Cabinet could continue. The Labour party again achieved an absolute majority in parliament, together with the highest popular vote in the...
, and was with 29 years the then youngest MP.
On 30 April 1954, he married Anne Marie Jørgensen.
Political life
An economist (characterized in 1981 as being "supply side" ) by education and profession, Willoch made an early mark in national politics on issues related to economic development. He expressed deep skepticism about social democratic reforms throughout most of the post-World War II era and has advocated a larger role for market mechanisms to solve economic problems.Within the Conservative Party, Willoch was respected for his command of the issues and consistent ideological platform. In spite of friendly rivalry with Erling Norvik
Erling Norvik
Erling Norvik was a Norwegian politician from the Conservative Party.Norvik was born in Vadsø, the son of Erling Johannes Norvik, who served in the Norwegian parliament from 1949 to 1961...
, Rolf Presthus
Rolf Presthus
Rolf Presthus was a Norwegian politician, who was chairman of the Conservative Party of Norway 1986-1988.Presthus was also Minister of Finance 1981-1986, and Minister of Defence in 1986....
, and Jan P. Syse
Jan P. Syse
was a lawyer and Norwegian politician from the Conservative Party. He was Prime Minister of Norway from 1989 to 1990. He also served as Minister of Industry from 1983 to 1985...
, these and other party members led a political shift in Norway away from the social democratic legacy.
Parliamentary and ministerial posts
Willoch's first political post was as a member of the Oslo City Council from 1952 to 1959.Willoch was first elected to the Norwegian parliament at the age of 29 in 1957, representing Oslo
Oslo
Oslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...
. He was to be elected in every parliamentary election until 1989.
He was appointed Minister of Trade in the short-lived but notable John Lyng
John Lyng
was a Norwegian politician from the Conservative Party. He was Prime Minister of Norway from 28 August to 25 September 1963 in a coalition government consisting of the Conservative, Centre, Christian Democratic, and Liberal parties.He was originally a member of the Liberal Left Party, heading the...
cabinet from August to September 1963, following the Kings Bay Affair
Kings Bay Affair
The Kings Bay Affair was a political issue in Norway that reached its apex in 1963 and brought down the government of Einar Gerhardsen and formed the basis for non-socialist coalition politics in Norway that persisted to the end of the 20th century....
that brought to an end to the uninterrupted chain of Labor governments after World War II, headed by Einar Gerhardsen
Einar Gerhardsen
was a Norwegian politician from the Labour Party of Norway. He was Prime Minister for three periods, 1945–1951, 1955–1963 and 1963–1965. With 17 years in office, he is the longest serving Prime Minister in Norway since the introduction of parliamentarism...
and Oscar Torp
Oscar Torp
was a Norwegian politician for the Norwegian Labour Party. He was party leader from 1923 to 1945, and mayor of Oslo in 1935 and 1936. In 1935 he became acting Minister of Defence in the government of Johan Nygaardsvold. He was also Minister of Social Affairs from 1936 to 1939, and then Minister of...
.
He was appointed to the same ministerial post in the government of Per Borten
Per Borten
was a Norwegian politician from the Centre Party and Prime Minister of Norway from 1965 to 1971. Per Borten is credited for leading the modernization of what was then named Bondepartiet into today's Centre Party...
in 1965-1970. He stepped down from this post to become first the Parliamentary leader, and then chairman of the Conservative Party 1970-1974.
In 1973, he unified his party in opposition to the newly introduced restrictions on use of land. This formed a watershed in Norwegian politics, in that the party adopted a stronger ideological alternative to the social democratic establishment that had dominated post-World War II politics. Some historians, notably Francis Sejersted
Francis Sejersted
Francis Sejersted is a Norwegian history professor and former chairman of the Norwegian Nobel Committee.Sejersted was educated in history as well as nordic language and literature at the University of Oslo and achieved a candidatus philologiæ in 1965 and a doctorate in 1973.From 1971 to 1973...
attribute this in large part to the Norwegian Labour Party
Norwegian Labour Party
The Labour Party is a social-democratic political party in Norway. It is the senior partner in the current Norwegian government as part of the Red-Green Coalition, and its leader, Jens Stoltenberg, is the current Prime Minister of Norway....
's exuberant continuation of social democratic efforts.
Willoch served as the leader of the Foreign Affairs committee in the coalition government and from then until he retired from parliament in 1989.
As a member of the Borten government he faced the constitutional question of the marriage of the then Crown Prince Harald to a commoner, Sonja Haraldsen. (They married in 1968 and since 1991 have been king and queen). Willoch is reported to have never considered opposing the union.
Most of Willoch's political career was spent in opposition to various Labour governments. His rhetorical style was characterized by conservative use of language
Norwegian language
Norwegian is a North Germanic language spoken primarily in Norway, where it is the official language. Together with Swedish and Danish, Norwegian forms a continuum of more or less mutually intelligible local and regional variants .These Scandinavian languages together with the Faroese language...
and carefully articulated viewpoints that many considered cold or even sarcastic. His debates with long-time adversary Gro Harlem Brundtland
Gro Harlem Brundtland
Gro Harlem Brundtland is a Norwegian Social democratic politician, diplomat, and physician, and an international leader in sustainable development and public health. She served three terms as Prime Minister of Norway , and has served as the Director General of the World Health Organization...
became legendary in Norway and were by several accounts based on personal as well as political differences. Brundtland wrote in her memoirs that she learned from Willoch "how not to treat people, or parties."
Premiership
Willoch was asked to form a Conservative party government when a non-socialist coalition gained a majority in the parliamentary elections of 1981Stortinget 1981-1985
List of all members of the Storting in period 1981 to 1985. The list includes all those initially elected toStorting.There were a total of 155 representatives, distributed among the parties: 65 to Norwegian Labour Party,...
. The cabinet depended on the support of the Christian Democrats
Christian People's Party (Norway)
The Christian Democratic Party , is a Christian Democratic Norwegian political party founded in 1933. The Norwegian name literally translates to Christian People's Party...
and Centre Party
Centre Party (Norway)
The Centre Party is a centrist and agrarian political party in Norway, founded in 1920. The Centre Party's policy is not based on any of the major ideologies of the 19th and 20th century, but has a focus on maintaining decentralised economic development and political decision-making.From its...
, and in 1983 these joined the cabinet to become a coalition government.
When Braathens SAFE Flight 139
Braathens SAFE Flight 139
Braathen SAFE Flight 139 was an aircraft hijacking that occurred in Norway on 21 June 1985. The incident took place on a Boeing 737-205 belonging to Braathens SAFE that was on a scheduled flight from Trondheim Airport, Værnes to Oslo Airport, Fornebu. The hijacker was Stein Arvid Huseby, who was...
was hijacked, the hijacker demanded to speak with Willoch.
By the parliamentary elections of 1985
Stortinget 1985-1989
List of all members of the Storting in the period 1985 to 1989. The list includes all those initially elected to Storting.There were a total of 157 representatives, distributed among the parties: 71 to Norwegian Labour Party, 50 to Conservative Party of Norway, 16 to Christian Democratic Party of...
, Willoch's cabinet had lost much of its parliamentary basis and was dependent on the Progress party
Progress Party (Norway)
The Progress Party is a political party in Norway which identifies as conservative liberal and libertarian. The media has described it as conservative and right-wing populist...
for support. The cabinet lost a vote of no-confidence over Willoch's proposal to increase surcharges on gasoline, when the Socialist Left Party, Labour Party, and Progress party joined forces. A minority government led by Gro Harlem Brundtland
Gro Harlem Brundtland
Gro Harlem Brundtland is a Norwegian Social democratic politician, diplomat, and physician, and an international leader in sustainable development and public health. She served three terms as Prime Minister of Norway , and has served as the Director General of the World Health Organization...
took over through the rest of the parliamentary period.
In spite of difficult parliamentary conditions, the Willoch cabinet embarked on a series of reforms that to many seemed like reversals of long-standing social democratic reforms, and to others changes that reflected new and emerging economic realities.
Often cited changes include:
- Dissolution of the governmental monopoly on radio and television broadcasting, including allowing the introduction of commercially-funded content.
- Ending government intervention in credit markets, which in turn led to freer access to credit by both consumers and businesses.
- Reducing restrictions on ownership and sale of real estate
- Reducing restrictions on retail trade, especially with respect to opening hours
- Several efforts at strengthening the non-petroleum related Norwegian economy
The Willoch government's foreign policy was largely consistent with those of prior Labour party cabinets in terms of Norwegian commitments under the NATO treaty, but deviated sharply on the issue of non-proliferation. Where the Labour Party promoted a reduction of tensions in the Nordic region, the Willoch cabinet approved forward logistical bases for American rapid deployment forces and lent full support to the NATO double track decision
NATO Double-Track Decision
The NATO Double-Track Decision is the decision of NATO from December 12, 1979 to offer the Warsaw Pact a mutual limitation of Medium-range ballistic missiles and Intermediate-range ballistic missiles combined with the threat that in case of disagreement NATO would deploy more middle range nuclear...
of 1979.
Willoch came under criticism for not acting sooner to stop the activities of politician and career diplomat Arne Treholt
Arne Treholt
Arne Treholt is a former Norwegian Labour Party politician and diplomat convicted of high treason and espionage on behalf of the Soviet Union and Iraq during the Cold War. Treholt's espionage is generally seen as the most serious spy case in the modern history of Norway...
, who was arrested in 1984 and convicted of treason
Treason
In law, treason is the crime that covers some of the more extreme acts against one's sovereign or nation. Historically, treason also covered the murder of specific social superiors, such as the murder of a husband by his wife. Treason against the king was known as high treason and treason against a...
and espionage
Espionage
Espionage or spying involves an individual obtaining information that is considered secret or confidential without the permission of the holder of the information. Espionage is inherently clandestine, lest the legitimate holder of the information change plans or take other countermeasures once it...
in favor of the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
and Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
.
Willoch earned a reputation as a sharp-witted, sometimes acerbic politician. During his years in parliament and in various governments, he was respected by his political allies and opponents alike, but never gained the popularity of other prime ministers in his time in office.
After retirement from national politics
Willoch served as county governor (fylkesmann) of OsloOslo
Oslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...
and Akershus
Akershus
- Geography :The county is conventionally divided into the traditional districts Follo and Romerike, which fill the vast part of the county, as well as the small exclave west of Oslo that consists of Asker and Bærum...
from 1989 to 1998. From 1998 to 2000 he was chairman of NRK, the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation
Norsk Rikskringkasting
The Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation , which is usually known as NRK, is the Norwegian government-owned radio and television public broadcasting company, and the largest media organisation in Norway...
. He was also director of the Nansen Institute
Nansen Institute
The Fridtjof Nansen Institute is named after the Norwegian polar explorer Fridtjof Nansen . It is housed in Polhøgda, Nansen's mansion from 1901 to 1930....
. Since 1986, he has been deputy chairman of the International Democrat Union
International Democrat Union
The International Democrat Union, abbreviated to IDU, is a centre-right international alliance of conservative and liberal-conservative political parties. Headquartered in Oslo, Norway, the IDU comprises 45 full or associate members...
(IDU), and he has been President of the Deutsch-Norwegische Gesellschaft (German-Norwegian Society).
Considered one of the most pronounced conservative Norwegian politicians in his time, he has in later years shifted his position in many areas. He has taken issue with the "culture of greed", "tax paradises', the environment and has been particularly harsh in his condemnation of Israel's policies toward Palestinians, claiming that the occupation of and settlement on Palestinian land (outside the 1967 borders) is unlawful. Though widely respected for his activism and argumentative style, he has also received criticism from several commentators, for example for accusing the country of "ethnic cleansing," and for saying it is "creating terror" by cultivating extremism "as if in a greenhouse in the Palestinian areas". One of the critics, his long-time friend and party colleague Jo Benkow
Jo Benkow
Jo Benkow is a Norwegian politician and writer, notable for being an important person in the Conservative Party of Norway, and the President of the Parliament 1985-1993....
, commented that "On this topic, Willoch must be the most partisan public person in this country.". Willoch has also stated that, though "there are strong reasons to warn against the new antisemitism, it will not strengthen Israel's cause to accuse critics of Israeli politics of antisemitism". He also claims that Israel indirectly contributes to New antisemitism stating that "It would be naive to ignore that Israel's politics towards the Palestinians has become a new source of negative attitudes." In May 2006, Willoch invited Atef Adwan
Atef Adwan
Atef Ibrahim Mohammad Adwan is the Minister of Refugees in the Palestinian Authority, having been named to this position following the Hamas victory in the Palestinian legislative election, 2006, when he was elected from the Northern Gaza District.Adwan was born...
, an official in Hamas
Hamas
Hamas is the Palestinian Sunni Islamic or Islamist political party that governs the Gaza Strip. Hamas also has a military wing, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades...
to a private luncheon at Det Norske Selskab, commenting that "A dialogue with Hamas is very useful." an action that prompted criticism by fellow Conservative party member and former foreign minister Jan Petersen
Jan Petersen
Jan Petersen is a Norwegian politician for the Conservative Party.He was elected to the Norwegian Parliament from Akershus in 1981, and was re-elected on six occasions. He had previously served as a deputy representative during the term 1973–1977. From 2001 to 2005, when the second cabinet...
.
In an op ed in the newspaper Aftenposten
Aftenposten
Aftenposten is Norway's largest newspaper. It retook this position in 2010, taking it from the tabloid Verdens Gang which had been the largest newspaper for several decades. It is based in Oslo. The morning edition, which is distributed across all of Norway, had a circulation of 250,179 in 2007...
Willoch summarized his views on the Israeli politics towards the Palestinians. He warned that "Those who defend the Israeli politics towards the Palestinians support a policy that generates a hatred that may lead to a disaster for Israel" and concluded that "Friends of Israel should seek to make Israel accept the Arab peace proposal. It demands, amongst other things, borders as before the war of 1967, only with such adjustments that the parties reach agreement upon, and guarantees for Israel's security."
Willoch has been accused of outright Antisemitism in the Wall Street Journal, after commenting on Barack Obama's appointment of Rahm Emanuel
Rahm Emanuel
Rahm Israel Emanuel is an American politician and the 55th and current Mayor of Chicago. He was formerly White House Chief of Staff to President Barack Obama...
: "It does not look too promising, he has chosen a chief of staff who is Jewish." Alan M. Dershowitz sharply criticized Willoch for this remark, arguing that "Mr. Willock didn't know anything about Mr. Emanuel's views - he based his criticism on the sole fact that Mr. Emanuel is a Jew."
Regarding Cablegate, he stated that "the problem is that the Western world
Western world
The Western world, also known as the West and the Occident , is a term referring to the countries of Western Europe , the countries of the Americas, as well all countries of Northern and Central Europe, Australia and New Zealand...
is violating Human rights
Human rights
Human rights are "commonly understood as inalienable fundamental rights to which a person is inherently entitled simply because she or he is a human being." Human rights are thus conceived as universal and egalitarian . These rights may exist as natural rights or as legal rights, in both national...
, not that someone is uncovering those violations".
In 1996, Willoch was decorated as a Commander with Star of the Order of St. Olav.
External links
- Homage to a true conservative. Profile of Kåre Willoch, written in the HumanBeams magazine, by Gisle Tangenes.