Norwegian lawmaker nominates Israel’s Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial for Nobel Peace Prize

Norwegian lawmaker Joel Ystebø, chair of the Israel-Norway Friendship Association and part of the Christian Democratic Party, has officially nominated Israel’s Yad Vashem Holocaust Museum in Jerusalem for the Nobel Peace Prize.

Ystebø praised Yad Vashem for its professional documentation of the Holocaust and its educational work combating intolerance amid rising anti-Jewish sentiment worldwide following the Hamas Oct. 7, 2023, massacre.

“Yad Vashem is one of the most significant institutions in the world in the fight against antisemitism, ideologies of hatred and historical distortion. Through Holocaust documentation, extensive research and international educational efforts, the institution helps preserve historical knowledge and strengthens respect for human dignity,” Ystebø wrote in his letter to the Nobel Peace Committee. 

“Throughout history, antisemitism has proven to be one of the most persistent and destructive forms of hatred. It has not only harmed Jewish communities, but also undermined democratic societies and contributed to violence, terror and wars," the Norwegian lawmaker continued.

Ystebø specifically stressed Yad Vashem’s educational work against Jew-hatred in the post-Oct. 7 era. 

"Today, this threat has taken on renewed and dramatic urgency. Following the terror attacks on Israel on October 7, 2023, the world has witnessed a significant increase in antisemitic sentiments and actions. Jewish communities in many countries have been affected by terror attacks, violence, threats and systematic harassment, while synagogues, schools and institutions have had to operate under constant security threats,” he said.

"In this landscape, Yad Vashem stands as an essential reference point for truth, knowledge and moral clarity. By educating teachers, researchers, policymakers and young people around the world, Yad Vashem strengthens society’s ability to identify and fight hatred before it escalates to violence. By emphasizing the stories of the victims and of those who chose to resist, the ‘Righteous Among the Nations,’ the institution conveys a message of responsibility, courage and solidarity. This message is a cornerstone for enduring peace,” Ystebø explained.

Ystebø was raised in a Christian Zionism home and has been outspoken in his support for Israel and the Jewish community. 

In February 2024, Christians in Norway arranged a rally for Israel and against antisemitism outside the Norwegian parliament in Oslo. 

However, diplomatic relations between Norway and Israel have deteriorated due to the current Norwegian government’s perceived anti-Israel policies following the Hamas-led Oct. 7 attacks. Norwegian officials are often among Israel’s harshest critics in Europe, frequently labeling Israel’s self-defense operations in Gaza as “excessive.” In May 2024, Norway, along with Spain and Ireland, unilaterally recognized a “Palestinian state,” despite Israel’s objections that the move rewarded the Hamas attacks on Israeli civilians and endorsed anti-Israel terrorism.

Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide announced at the time that “for more than 30 years, Norway has been one of the strongest advocates for a Palestinian state. Today, when Norway officially recognizes Palestine as a state, is a milestone in the relationship between Norway and Palestine.”

The Norwegian wealth fund has also divested from Israeli companies that operate in Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria, internationally known as the West Bank. 

Last November, the Israeli Foreign Ministry reprimanded the Norwegian ambassador after Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre participated in a Kristallnacht event alongside extremist groups that openly seek Israel’s destruction.

The Foreign Ministry in Jerusalem assessed that “the Norwegian government’s policy toward Israel fuels antisemitism in the country,” condemning the Norwegian prime minister’s participation in an event “that distorted the memory of the Holocaust and turned the anniversary of Kristallnacht into a weapon against the Jewish state, its citizens, and the Jewish people as a whole.”