The Guardian June 5, 2025
Norway MPs reject call to stop wealth fund investing in Israeli-occupied Palestinian territories
Parliament votes against divestment proposal after tearful speeches in chamber and protests outside

Politicians in Norway have rejected calls to stop investing its sovereign wealth fund — the largest in the world — in the occupied Palestinian territories despite emotional scenes inside and outside parliament.

The £1.4trillion oil fund, which is run by Norges Bank according to rules set by MPs, is the largest European investor in Israel’s occupation.

Among the 45 proposals voted on in Wednesday’s annual review of the oil fund — several of which related to Israel — was to instruct Norges Bank to divest the oil fund from companies that contribute to Israel’s illegal occupation and what the proposals said were Israeli war crimes.

The vote came after dramatic scenes in Stortinget (parliament) in Oslo as several MPs gave speeches about Gaza through tears.