Norway’s Largest Trade Union Votes Overwhelmingly to Boycott Israel, Urges Economic Sanctions

Oslo (Quds News Network)- The Norwegian Confederation of Trade Unions (LO), the country’s largest labor federation, has voted for a comprehensive boycott of Israel. The decision includes a full ban on trade and investment with Israeli companies.

LO delegates approved the motion with a landslide 88% majority during the union’s national congress in Oslo on May 8–9.

The boycott will cover cultural, sports, and academic institutions linked to Israel. LO also warned that if Israel’s occupation does not end by September 2025—as demanded by the UN General Assembly—it will push Norway to lead a global economic boycott.

Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide disagrees with a unilateral move.

“I have warned against a one-sided Norwegian boycott,” he told FriFagbevegelse. “Norway does not have a tradition of acting alone. A solo move may cause more harm than good.”

Still, he acknowledged that LO’s decision signals growing support for international sanctions. “Such efforts would have to go through the UN and EU,” he said.

Barth Eide also stressed that the government will not interfere in independent institutions. “It’s not up to the government to decide what free academic or cultural institutions believe,” he said.

Newly elected LO President Kine Asper Vistnes said the union will now begin planning how to act on the boycott decision.

“We’ll sit down and go through how to implement all the congress resolutions,” Vistnes told FriFagbevegelse. “It’s too soon for a detailed plan, but we will follow up.”

Socialist Left Party (SV) leader Kirsti Bergstø called the vote “a historic mandate” to the government.

She urged the government to withdraw the Oil Fund from any Israeli-linked investments and to ban trade with companies supporting Israel’s crimes.

“LO understood the gravity of the moment,” she said. “The grassroots stood firm against pressure and showed true solidarity with the Palestinian people.”

Secretary-General of the Palestinian General Federation of Trade Unions (PGFTU), Shaher Saad, welcomed the decision during his visit to the congress, according to WAFA. He called for Norway to stop using its Oil Fund to support Israel’s occupation and settlements. Saad stressed the importance of international labor movements taking action.

The Red Party (Rødt) also called the vote historic and urged the government to act fast.

Rødt leader Bjørnar Moxnes said the party will now introduce new proposals to withdraw Oil Fund investments from Israel, legally ban business activity tied to Israeli settlements, and enforce a broad arms embargo on Israel.

Rødt has already introduced a proposal to halt Norwegian arms transfers to Israel. This supports LO’s call for standardized end-user declarations.

On June 4, the Norwegian Parliament will vote on the Oil Fund’s mandate. Rødt plans to submit proposals that reflect LO’s resolution.

The boycott resolution passed with overwhelming support. Only 60 out of more than 300 voting delegates opposed it.

SV has already submitted a matching proposal in Parliament. Bergstø is now urging the Labour Party to back both the union and her party’s initiative.

The question now is whether Labour will side with LO or align with right-wing parties like Høyre, FrP, and KrF.