A disproportionately high 30% of Norway’s national budget agreement for 2026 is about Gaza and Israel, accounting for five out of 17 clauses.
The document, signed on November 29, is an agreement between the ruling Labour Party, the Centre Party, and the Red Party regarding the state budget for 2026.
By signing it, the parties commit to voting for the consensus on the state budget for 2026 and not forming any other majorities in connection with the budget process.
The parties signed 17 clauses, the first 12 of which are about health and dental care, trade, the environment, the rental market, and social assistance. Clauses 13 to 17 are all about Israel and the Palestinians.
What are they?
Norway's budget clauses on Israel and Palestine
• Clause 13 requests that the government push central bank Norges Bank (which manages the Oil Fund and Pension Fund) to ensure Norway’s actions comply with the Genocide Convention, and that the Oil Fund’s investments do not create any risk of contributing to international-law violations in “Palestine.”
• Clause 14 requests that the government, in cooperation with countries in the region, work to ensure Israeli responsibility for the reconstruction of Gaza.
• Clause 15 requests that the government raise Israel’s obligations under international law to “prevent abuses by, and prosecute violations committed by, violent settlers – in relevant international forums.”
• Clause 16 requests that the government introduce a legal ban on the import of goods originating from, and the export of goods to, the “Israeli settlements in Palestine that violate international law,” and take the initiative for other countries to introduce similar bans.
• Clause 17 requests that the government submit a resolution to the UN General Assembly emphasizing Israel’s responsibility to comply with the International Court of Justice’s advisory opinion of October 22, 2025 (which states that Israel is obligated to lift restrictions on UNRWA’s operations and agree to and facilitate relief provided by the Agency).
The state budget for 2026 amounts to NOK 2,165 billion ($214b.). Of this, NOK 765 million ($75.6m.) or 0.035% of the total, is to be allocated to Gaza. Of that, NOK 700m. is to go to Gaza directly, NOK 10m. is to support organizations working on the issue of settler violence, and NOK 5m. is to be allocated for “training and capacity-building for the Palestinian Authority.”