SV politician wants cuts in arms purchases from Israel - The Nordic Page

11.01.2012 - Oslo

SV politician wants cuts in arms purchases from Israel

Socialist Left Party (SV) parliamentary leader Bård Vegar Solhjell thinks Norway should reduce purchases of defense equipment from Israel.

Photo: Yael Lerer | Display made of Israeli tear gas grenades and canisters used against Palestinians and their supporters at the West Bank village of Bil'in over years of protest against the wall which separates the village from about 40% of its land.

Talking to Klassekampen, Solhjell noted that the current coalition government has purchased four times more defense equipments from Israel than the Bondevik government. Solhjell also asked Defense Minister Espen Barth Eide (Labour) to slow purchases from Israel.

“With his background from the State Department and with great insight and knowledge of the Israeli occupation, I expect him to take hold and provide a more restrictive practice for procurement,” says Solhjell to Klassekampen.

Solhjell was in Israel previously, but had been denied to enter into Gaza by Israeli authorities.