MK Elon: Road to Oslo Paved with Gold: Calls on PM to meet with Peres and
Norwegian Ambassador

April 23, 2002 Contact: Mark Sloman

"It is a matter of considerable concern to learn that a foreign government
may be interfering in the internal policy of the State of Israel by
contributing significant funds to an organization founded and run by the man
responsible for representing Israel on the international stage," MK Binyamin
Elon commented upon being shown evidence of Norway's involvement in the
Peres Institute for Peace. "Ordinarily, this would be a matter for the
Foreign Ministry but, because of the Foreign Minister's personal interest, I
believe the Prime Minister should look into this issue."

The Peres Institute for Peace, which was established following the signing
of the Oslo agreements, is run by Foreign Minister Shimon Peres and used as
a sounding board for the Foreign Minister's policy initiatives. The
revelation that the Norwegian government has contributed millions of Israeli
shekels to the institute raises a number of questions.

MK Elon believes that both the Foreign Minister and the Norwegian Ambassador
should be consulted to clarify the relationship between the Institute and
the Norwegian government and what, if any, this relationship has played in
the conduct of Israeli foreign relations.