Jo Benkow
Jo Benkow (b. 15 August 1924 in Trondheim, Norway; d. 18 May 2013 in Oslo, Norway), born Josef Elias Benkowitz, was a jewish politician and writer in Norway. He was a member of the Conservative Party of Norway, and the President of the Parliament 1985–1993. He was also President of the Nordic Council in 1983.
Life
Early life
Jo Benkow was born in Trondheim, Norway to jewish parents, Ivan Benkow (1885–1955) and Annie Louise Florence (1895–1942). The family moved to the municipality of Bærum outside Oslo when Jo was a child. He received religious education in the Oslo Synagogue until his bar mitzvah.[1]
In 1942, he fled persecution by the Germans occupying Norway, to Sweden. His mother and sister were deported from Norway and sent to Auschwitz[fact?]. Jo reached the United Kingdom where he served in the Royal Norwegian Air Force. He returned after the war and took up photography as a trade, his father's profession.
Politics
In 1965 he was elected to the Parliament of Norway, representing the Conservative Party. In parliament he soon became a leading figure, as party leader 1980–84, group leader of the Conservative Party in parliament 1981–85 and most notably becoming President of the Storting (Speaker) on 9 October 1985, a position he held until his retirement on 30 September 1993, after 28 years in parliament.
Benkow served as president of the International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights, taught international relations at Boston University, and has written books on human rights, modern monarchy in Norway, and other issues.
In the late 1980s, Benkow supported the left-wing campaign "Ja til et fargerikt fellesskap" (Yes to a colorful community) which promoted multiculturalism and immigration in the school.
He was a great supporter of the State of Israel and visited the country often.[2][3][4] In recent years he managed to create some controversy when he criticized former prime minister and party colleague Kåre Willoch, calling him "the most biased person in the country," on account of Willoch's views on the Middle East and his criticism of Israeli politics.
Death
Benkow died on 18 May 2013, at a hospital in Oslo, aged 88.[5]
Awards
- Defence Medal 1940–1945
- Norwegian Booksellers' Prize, 1985
- Grand Cross of the Order of the White Rose of Finland, 1990
- B'nai B'rith Gold Medal, 1993
- Grand Decoration of Honour in Gold for Services to the Republic of Austria, 1996
- Knights of the Order of St. Olav, 1998
See also
External links
References
- ↑ Fra synagogen til Løvebakken, Jo Benkow, 1985
- ↑ Konservative kristne slår ring om Israel
- ↑ Benkow støtter Israel-muren
- ↑ Norske medier mest Israel-kritiske
- ↑ Jo Benkow er død – VG Nett. Vg.no.