1 Introduction

There has been a rise in antisemitism in Norway since Hamas carried out terrorist attacks against Israel on 7 October 2023 and the subsequent war in the Middle East. This has impacted Jews in Norway. The pejorative use of the word ‘Jew’ has persisted for a long time. Many people are subjected to hate speech simply because they are Jewish, some have received direct threats, and many are afraid to display their Jewish identity or to use Jewish symbols in public. This is a trend the Government wants to reverse. With this Action plan, the Government seeks to continue and strengthen efforts to combat antisemitism in the years ahead.

The Norwegian Centre for Holocaust and Minority Studies (Norwegian Holocaust Centre) has conducted three major surveys on the population’s attitudes toward Jews, in 2011, 2017, and 2022. In May 2024, the Centre presented a new mapping—an abbreviated version of previous surveys with a few new questions—which aimed to investigate whether attitudes in the population had changed following the 7 October 2023 terrorist attack on Israel and the subsequent war in the Middle East. The survey shows that international conditions affect attitudes toward Jews in Norway. For example, 30 per cent of survey respondents stated that Israel’s warfare in Gaza had caused them to have more negative feelings toward Jews, in general. 1 There has also been an increase in antisemitic attitudes and actions in other Western countries. 2 Furthermore, antisemitism on the internet and on global digital platforms is on the rise.

The rise in antisemitism not only affects Jews; it affects us all. Like other forms of prejudice, harassment, and racism, combating antisemitism is the responsibility of society at large. Government representatives and leaders of political parties, cultural life, voluntary organisations and religious and life stance communities have a special responsibility to combat prejudice and to clearly speak out against antisemitism.

While combating antisemitism is the responsibility of society as a whole, the Jewish minority has also implemented important measures. The Jewish Pathfinders is an example of an important information initiative aimed at upper secondary school pupils. The Pathfinders contribute to making Jews visible, disseminating knowledge about Judaism and Jewish history in Norway and combating antisemitism. The Jewish Pathfinders have garnered attention both in Norway and internationally. Among other things, the Pathfinders participated in a conference on antisemitism organised by the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) in Malta in April 2024, where they presented the initiative and shared their experiences. 3 The Jewish Pathfinders were also awarded the Sønsteby Prize in 2024, which is a prestigious recognition of their efforts over several years. 4 2025 will mark the 10 ^th anniversary of the founding of the Jewish Pathfinders.