Norway ex-PM: ‘double standard’ on Israel cripples nuclear non-proliferation

A former prime minster of Norway says that Israel is part of the problem undermining efforts to limit the proliferation of nuclear weapons.

“We have used wars and occupation of Muslim countries,” Kjell Magne Bondevik, whose last term as Norwegian prime minister ended in 2005, singled out Pakistan, India and the Jewish state says during a conference on tolerance by the European Council on Tolerance and Reconciliation.

“Of course this does not excuse terrorism but we need to be more consistent. The same can be said about nuclear proliferation, but how to approach countries like Pakistan, India and Israel? It this a double standard? We have to question ourselves and we have to be aware that many in the Muslim world may use this as an excuse and talk of double standard in this regard,” he says.

— JTA