With Israel for Peace
{{Short description|Norwegian pro-Israel organisation}}
File:Med Israel For Fred 2006-08-07 img01.jpg in 2006.]]
With Israel for Peace ({{langx|no|Med Israel for fred}}, MIFF) is a Norwegian pro-Israel organisation. It styles itself as a "non-religious, non-partisan pro-Israel organisation", and has 14,000 registered members as of 2024.{{cite news|url=https://idag.no/pa-vegne-av-14-000-medlemmer-krever-miff-at-regjeringen-fordommer-hizbollah-angrep/19.44853|title=På vegne av 14.000 medlemmer krever MIFF at regjeringen fordømmer Hizbollah-angrep|trans-title=On behalf of 14,000 members MIFF demands that the government condemns Hezbollah-attack|first=Ingvill|last=Mydland|work=Norge Idag|date=16 February 2024|language=no|url-access=subscription|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250210183814/https://idag.no/pa-vegne-av-14-000-medlemmer-krever-miff-at-regjeringen-fordommer-hizbollah-angrep/19.44853|archive-date=10 February 2025|url-status=live}} A main concern of the organisation is what it sees as a negative bias towards Israel in mainstream Norwegian media coverage. The director of the organisation is Conrad Myrland, and the president is Lars Johan Nordgård.{{cite web|url=https://miff.no/miff-english-with-israel-for-peace|title=MIFF – With Israel for peace – Europe’s largest non-religious pro-Israel membership organization|work=With Israel for Peace|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250212122348/https://miff.no/miff-english-with-israel-for-peace|archive-date=12 February 2025|url-status=live|accessdate=12 February 2025}}
History and activities
MIFF was founded in 1978. Since then it has grown substantially from about 700–800 in its early years, to 2,000 around 2008, and 10,700 as of 2018.{{cite news|url=https://idag.no/en-eventyrlig-utvikling-som-startet-med-et-jakkemerke/19.28563|title=En eventyrlig utvikling som startet med et jakkemerke|trans-title=An adventurous evolution which began with a jacket badge|first=Eli|last=Bondlid|work=Norge Idag|date=27 April 2018|language=no|url-access=subscription|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250210183952/https://idag.no/en-eventyrlig-utvikling-som-startet-med-et-jakkemerke/19.28563|archive-date=10 February 2025|url-status=live|quote="Bare i løpet av de siste ti årene har MIFFs medlemstall vokst fra 2.000 til rundt 10.700 medlemmer. ... Organisasjonen ble etablert i 1978. ... I starten hadde MIFF mellom 700-800 medlemmer."|trans-quote="Just in the last ten years MIFF's membership numbers have grown from 2,000 to around 10,700 members. ... The organisation was established in 1978. ... In the beginning MIFF had between 700-800 members."}} In January 2009, during the First Gaza War, a peaceful rally by MIFF was attacked amid violent anti-Israel riots in Oslo.{{Cite news|title=MIFF: – Vi er ikke samlet for å feire krig, men for å få til fred |trans-title=MIFF: – We are not gathered to celebrate war, but to achieve peace|url=https://www.dagen.no/nyheter/miff-vi-er-ikke-samlet-for-a-feire-krig-men-for-a-fa-til-fred/816605|first=Nora Lovise Bregård|last=Andersen|agency=NTB|work=Dagen|date=10 August 2014|language=no|url-access=subscription|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140812223736/http://www.dagen.no/Nyheter/10/08/2014/MIFF_%E2%80%93_Vi_er_ikke_samlet_for_%C3%A5_feire_krig_men_for_%C3%A5_f%C3%A5_til_fred-101196|archive-date=12 August 2014|url-status=live}} By early 2014 MIFF had more than twice as many members as the main pro-Palestine organisation in Norway, the Palestine Committee of Norway.{{Cite news|title=MIFF "knuser" Palestinakomiteen |trans-title=MIFF "crushes" the Palestine Committee|url=https://www.dagen.no/nyheter/miff-knuser-palestinakomiteen/960316|first=Ove|last=Eikje|work=Dagen|date=11 January 2014|language=no|url-access=subscription|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923212421/http://www.dagen.no/Israel/MIFF_%C2%ABknuser%C2%BB_Palestinakomiteen-69541|archive-date=23 September 2015|url-status=live}}
In July 2014, amid the 2014 Gaza War, the organisation accused Mads Gilbert of lying about Israel, and put ads in Norwegian newspapers debunking claims made by Gilbert.{{Cite news|title=Med Israel for fred: - Mads Gilbert lyver om Israel Gilbert: - Utrolig tynt skvip|trans-title=With Israel for Peace: – Mads Gilbert lies about Israel Gilbert: – Incredibly weak rubbish|url=http://www.dagbladet.no/2014/07/19/nyheter/innenriks/utenriks/gaza/krig/34416962/|first=Asle|last=Hansen|work=Dagbladet|date=19 July 2014|language=no|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140722004618/http://www.dagbladet.no/2014/07/19/nyheter/innenriks/utenriks/gaza/krig/34416962/|archive-date=22 July 2014|url-status=live|url-access=registration}} The organisation was itself accused of stirring up television viewer storms against NRK reporter Sidsel Wold{{Cite news|title=MIFF lagde seerstorm i NRK |trans-title=MIFF caused viewer storm in NRK|url=https://www.dagen.no/nyheter/miff-lagde-seerstorm-i-nrk/718490|first=Natalie|last=Mossum|work=Dagen|date=17 July 2014|language=no|url-access=subscription|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140723092211/http://www.dagen.no/Nyheter/17/07/2014/MIFF_lagde_seerstorm_%E2%80%A8i_NRK-92994|archive-date=23 July 2014|url-status=live}} and TV 2 reporter Fredrik Græsvik.{{Cite news|title=TV 2-Græsvik mener MIFF ikke bør få slippe til i det offentlige rom: Jeg går hardt ut mot de som mener jeg lyver|trans-title=TV 2-Græsvik thinks MIFF should not be allowed in the public space: I take a strong stance against those who think I lie|url=http://www.dagbladet.no/2014/07/22/nyheter/innenriks/utenriks/fredrik_gresvik/vebjorn_selbekk/34451928/|first=Trym|last=Mogen|work=Dagbladet|date=22 July 2014|language=no|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140726053046/http://www.dagbladet.no/2014/07/22/nyheter/innenriks/utenriks/fredrik_gresvik/vebjorn_selbekk/34451928/|archive-date=26 July 2014|url-status=live|url-access=registration}} In August 2014 MIFF held a rally with up to 600 people in Oslo, with speakers including members of parliament Hans Fredrik Grøvan and Kristian Norheim.{{Cite news|title=MIFF: - Vi er her for å få til ekte fred i Midtøsten|trans-title=MIFF: – We are here to achieve real peace in the Middle East|url=http://www.tv2.no/a/5888324|first=Anja|last=Tho Gunnersen|work=TV 2|date=10 August 2014|language=no|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140812223848/http://www.tv2.no/a/5888324|archive-date=12 August 2014|url-status=live}}{{Cite news|title=MIFF: – Vi vil få til en ekte fred i Midtøsten|trans-title=MIFF: – We want to achieve a real peace in the Middle East|url=http://www.vg.no/nyheter/innenriks/midtoesten/miff-vi-vil-faa-til-en-ekte-fred-i-midtoesten/a/23271174/|work=Verdens Gang|date=10 August 2014|language=no|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140814050751/http://www.vg.no/nyheter/innenriks/midtoesten/miff-vi-vil-faa-til-en-ekte-fred-i-midtoesten/a/23271174/|archive-date=14 August 2014|url-status=live|url-access=registration}} The organisation received a record {{NOK|900.000}} in gifts and membership fees during the month of August 2014.{{Cite news|title=Med Israel for Fred satte inntekts-rekord|trans-title=With Israel for Peace set income record|url=https://www.aftenbladet.no/lokalt/i/RBkWO/med-israel-for-fred-satte-inntekts-rekord|work=Stavanger Aftenblad|agency=Kristelig Pressekontor|date=9 September 2014|language=no|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140912102114/http://www.aftenbladet.no/nyheter/politikk/Med-Israel-for-Fred-satte-inntekts-rekord-3503878.html|archive-date=12 September 2014|url-status=live}} Notable members of MIFF includes retired football player Anders Rambekk,{{Cite news|title=Fotballkjendis danner lokallag for MIFF |trans-title=Football celebrity creates local chapter for MIFF|url=https://www.dagen.no/nyheter/fotballkjendis-danner-lokallag-for-miff/124074|first=Ove|last=Eikje|work=Dagen|date=26 August 2010|language=no|url-access=subscription|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141126045646/http://www.dagen.no/Israel_Midt_sten/Fotballkjendis_danner_lokallag_for_MIFF-14725|archive-date=26 November 2014|url-status=live}} member of parliament Erlend Wiborg,{{Cite news|title=Erlend Wiborg har meldt seg inn i "Med Israel for fred" |trans-title=Erlend Wiborg has joined "With Israel for Peace"|url=http://www.f-b.no/nyheter/nyheter/erlend-wiborg-har-meldt-seg-inn-i-med-israel-for-fred/s/2-2.952-1.8526570|first=Hans-Martin|last=Roer|work=Fredriksstad Blad|date=30 July 2014|language=no|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924010236/http://www.f-b.no/nyheter/nyheter/erlend-wiborg-har-meldt-seg-inn-i-med-israel-for-fred/s/2-2.952-1.8526570|archive-date=24 September 2015|url-status=live}} and former member of parliament Hallgrim Berg.{{Cite news|title=Han skal mobilisere Israel-støtte i nord|trans-title=He will mobilise support for Israel in the north|url=http://www.nordlys.no/med-israel-for-fred/israel/han-skal-mobilisere-israel-stotte-i-nord/s/5-34-157255|first=Ola|last=Solvang|work=Nordlys|date=19 May 2015|language=no|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241204151034/https://www.nordlys.no/med-israel-for-fred/israel/han-skal-mobilisere-israel-stotte-i-nord/s/5-34-157255|archive-date=4 December 2024|url-status=live|quote="Tidligere stortingsrepresentant Hallgrim Berg skal mobilisere nordlendinger for organisasjonen Israel for fred."|trans-quote=Former member of the Storting Hallgrim Berg is to mobilise people from Nordland for the organisation Israel for Peace.|url-access=subscription}}
In 2015, MIFF became a co-founding member of the European Alliance for Israel, planned since 2013, which included delegates from fifteen European countries, of which MIFF was the largest group by membership.{{Cite news|title=Enighet om å danne israelvennlig allianse|trans-title=Agreement of forming Israel-friendly alliance|url=https://www.dagen.no/nyheter/enighet-om-a-danne-israelvennlig-allianse/711669|first=Stein|last=Gudvangen|work=Dagen|language=no|date=3 December 2013|url-access=subscription|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140801233808/http://www.dagen.no/Israel/Enighet_om_%C3%A5_danne_israelvennlig_allianse-67905|archive-date=1 August 2014|url-status=live}}{{Cite news|title=Europeisk allianse for Israel etablert|trans-title=European alliance for Israel established|url=http://www.miff.no/MedIsraelforfred/2015/05/10EuropeiskallianseforIsraeletablert.htm|first=Conrad|last=Myrland|work=With Israel for Peace|language=no|date=10 May 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150527043854/http://www.miff.no/MedIsraelforfred/2015/05/10EuropeiskallianseforIsraeletablert.htm|archive-date=27 May 2015|url-status=live}}
A week after the October 7 Hamas-led attack on Israel in 2023, about 500 people attended a rally in Oslo arranged by MIFF. Among the speakers were politicians such as Progress Party leader Sylvi Listhaug.{{cite news|url=https://www.dagbladet.no/nyheter/person-pagrepet-under-demonstrasjon/80349487|title=Israel og Palestina: Person pågrepet under demonstrasjon|trans-title=Israel and Palestine: Person apprehended during demonstration|first1=Siri Åbø|last1=Wiersen|first2=Ralf|last2=Lofstad|first3=Emma Victoria|last3=Hegnar|work=Dagbladet|date=15 October 2023|language=no|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231015173445/https://www.dagbladet.no/nyheter/person-pagrepet-under-demonstrasjon/80349487|archive-date=15 October 2023|url-status=live|url-access=registration}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.miff.no/miff-english-with-israel-for-peace/ Official website in English]
- [http://www.miff.no/ Official website (in Norwegian)]
{{Jews and Judaism in Norway}}
Category:1978 establishments in Norway
Category:Israel–Norway relations
Category:Israeli–Palestinian peace process
Category:Jewish Norwegian history
Category:Norway friendship associations
Category:Organizations established in 1978
Category:Organizations involved in the Israeli–Palestinian peace process