Sunnmøre association plans delayed commemoration event one year after terror attack in Israel

One year after the terror attack in Israel that claimed the lives of 1,200 people by Hamas, an association in Sunnmøre is planning a delayed commemoration event, expecting 70 to 80 attendees for a film and lecture. However, securing a venue has proven more challenging than anticipated, as several landlords declined to rent their spaces due to security concerns. Marit Heggen Stokke, the association’s chairperson, expressed her shock at being denied venues, stating that the landlords are hesitant to associate with such organizations.

For the past seven years, the organization Med Israel for Peace (MIFF) has held events at the Spjelkavik Panorama conference center, but this year they received a direct refusal. Stokke highlighted that they have always communicated with the police ahead of their events to ensure safety. When they sought a venue at the Thon Partner Hotel Baronen, they initially received approval, but that decision was later reversed over security worries for their guests.

As the threat level in Norway has recently been raised, local leaders at Spjelkavik Panorama decided against hosting the event, prioritizing employee safety, as they are a small company without extensive security resources. MIFF’s leader, Conrad Myrland, pointed out that they have not faced issues renting venues elsewhere, calling the situation in Ålesund an outright attack on freedom of expression.

Eventually, the association secured a new location at the Moa Conference Center, and Stokke believes the event will proceed peacefully, with vigilant attendees monitoring for any issues.