Norwegian MP Nominates Yad Vashem for Nobel Prize to Challenge Norway’s Post–October 7 Stance

A Norwegian member of parliament has submitted a Nobel Peace Prize nomination for Yad Vashem, using the high-profile process to challenge Norway’s political approach toward Israel and to refocus public debate on antisemitism.

The nomination was filed this week by Joel Ystebø, a 24-year-old parliamentarian from Norway’s Christian Democratic Party, ahead of the annual Nobel nomination deadline. In a letter addressed to the Nobel Committee in Oslo, Ystebø described Yad Vashem as “one of the world’s most significant institutions in the fight against antisemitism, hate ideologies and historical distortion.”

Ystebø has been explicit that the move is intended as a political signal, not a ceremonial gesture. In an interview with Jewish News Syndicate, he said many Norwegians were “embarrassed by our own government after October 7 for being too soft on Hamas,” adding that the nomination was meant to show Israel and the Jewish community that they “have many friends in Norway.”

In his letter, Ystebø argued that antisemitism has repeatedly proven to be “one of the most persistent and destructive forms of hatred,” and warned that the problem has intensified worldwide following October 7. He pointed to a rise in antisemitic violence, threats, and harassment, saying Jewish institutions in many countries now operate under constant security pressure.

“Today, Yad Vashem serves as a global anchor in the fight against antisemitism and other forms of hatred,” the letter states. Ystebø also cited what he described as a growing international trend of Holocaust denial and trivialization, fueled by digital disinformation and conspiracy theories. He wrote that through research, documentation, and international educational programs, Yad Vashem provides “truth, knowledge and moral clarity” at a time when historical distortion is increasingly normalized.

Professor Dina Porat, a senior academic adviser at Yad Vashem, said the nomination reflects the renewed relevance of the institution’s mission. “We are witness today to how hatred caused by antisemitism is again ever so relevant to our very time,” she told JNS, adding that Yad Vashem’s work offers a clear historical warning through documentation and commemoration.

Founded in 1953 in Jerusalem, Yad Vashem commemorates the six million Jews murdered in the Holocaust and serves as a leading global center for Holocaust research and education.

The Nobel Committee does not comment on individual nominations, and hundreds are submitted each year. Still, by publicizing his submission, Ystebø has ensured that the issue of antisemitism and Norway’s posture toward Israel will remain in the national spotlight in the months ahead.