New York, NY, September 3, 2009 … The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) today derided "as misguided and inappropriate" a decision by the Norwegian government to divest its pension fund from an Israeli defense company involved in providing components for Israel's West Bank security fence.

In explaining their decision to divest from Elbit Systems, a major Israeli defense contractor, Norwegian officials said they did not wish to invest in companies that "contribute to violations of international humanitarian law."

"Norway unfortunately ignored the sensible ruling of the Israeli Supreme Court on the security fence and chose to rely on the widely disparaged advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice," said Abraham H. Foxman, ADL National Director.  "Israel's highest court ruled that the security fence is a legal means of defense and has also ordered the government to adjust the route where the principle of proportionality is not adhered to.  Israel is a rule-of-law state, and the government complied.

"Norway's decision is misguided and inappropriate," added Mr. Foxman.  "The security fence was conceived, designed and implemented by the Israeli government to protect Israeli civilians from being indiscriminately murdered by Palestinian suicide bombers.  It has saved the lives of countless innocent Israeli civilians, as evidenced by the drastic decrease in suicide bombings since it was built."

The Anti-Defamation League, founded in 1913, is the world's leading organization fighting anti-Semitism through programs and services that counteract hatred, prejudice and bigotry.