This Is The Most Pro-Israel Village In The World

In this remote village in Norway, hundreds of kilometers from Oslo, there is a community that reads the Bible more than the mainstream news.

A village in the Sokndal County in Norway

Earlier this month, I had a speaking tour in Norway as part of my efforts to reach Europeans with the truth about Israel. What people see today in the mainstream Western media does not reflect reality on the ground. So I came to Norway, mere days after it recognized Palestine as a state - to speak the truth.

When my wife and I landed in Stavanger, our friends greeted us (of course with the Israeli flag, because how can you not?), and they drove us to Sokndal, a remote county in Norway that includes a set of small villages. I’m used to staying in central cities, as this is usually where events about the Israel-Palestinian conflict take place, but this time, I wanted to go to the countryside and speak with farmers and locals as I myself grew up in the countryside in Israel.

After about two hours of driving, it was already nighttime; our friends told us, “Look outside the window, and you will see something you recognize.” I look out the car window and see a giant Star of David lit up outside one house. We pass this house, and another Star of David, and another. Jokingly, I asked if we had left Israel because I felt like I was home. My friend Tom replied and said: “Brother, you are indeed home; your coming here is going to be a love invasion; your country has been invaded by vicious Hamas terrorists, and it’s time the Jews will get love. Here is where you will only be loved”.

Filming a video outside a house with Star of David

I was tired, so I went to sleep. When I woke up, I looked outside the window and saw a fantastic view of a lake, green postures, and white sheep enjoying a semi-sunny day in this remote county called Sokndal. I thought I was in heaven. It is so beautiful, it’s in the middle of nowhere. In a way, it reminded me of my childhood in Galilee, where I grew up - the peace of nature. 

A monument formed out stones from all counties in Norway

On our first day, they took us up on a small mountain and showed us a monument formed out of stones taken from each county in Norway - to symbolize peace and prayers for wholeness in Norway. They invited my wife and me to sit on a bench there so they could pray over us and asked forgiveness on behalf of the Norwegian government that, during Israel’s most critical days and fight for survival, decided to recognize a Palestinian state and stab Israel in the back. On that mountain, a sign points in the direction of Jerusalem, and it is written how far Jerusalem is - more than 3000 kilometers, but it felt like the people in that village had Jerusalem in their hearts - Jerusalem wasn’t far; it was in each of them. One of the villagers I had coffee with at his house showed me his office, which he calls the “prayer room,” he said he prays there daily for his Israeli friends and Jerusalem. “It is a blessing for me,” he says. 

Sitting under the sign of Jerusalem with local community

The people in this village are using what the Bible says to guide their personal lives. Psalms 122:6 says, “Pray for peace in Jerusalem. May all who love this city prosper.” It was amazing to meet prosperous people who prayed for the peace of Jerusalem, not just with their lips but with their faith. They welcomed my wife and me in the most welcoming way - singing to us, hugging us, blowing the shofar - I was even asked to bless the grand-grandchildren of one of the villagers.

That same day, I had my first speaking event there. We passed by the prayer house, where I was scheduled to talk, and Tom told me: “You see how small this house is, but the faith of the people who live here and their love for Israel is big; you will be surprised.” And, of course, that house of prayer also had a Star of David. Even though the people who live there are probably not used to having traffic jams or a hard time finding parking, on our way to the speaking event, there was much traffic in that remote village; it was the people who came to hear about Israel and to meet the Israelis who came to Norway. The house was packed to a level that once you enter the house of prayer, there is no getting out. There were even people sitting outside. One of the days I spoke there, it was cold outside - and people were still coming to sit outside, covered in blankets and umbrellas by their side in case God decided to let it rain - but thankfully, it did not rain during the events.

Outside the house of prayer in the small village

After the events, I spoke to people there; almost every community member has been to Israel at least once. One woman came to me with her twins and said she had been to Israel at least 19 times and that it was important for her to bring her children to Israel so that Norway would have a new generation that loved Israel and cared about God’s promises. Some people burst into tears when I shared stories of families who lost their loved ones, sons who lost their parents on October 7, soldiers who fell in heroic battles, and the brokenness that we feel in Israel. But I told them that despite that, I tell my Israeli friends that we cannot lose our joy - because losing our happiness means letting the enemy win. We cannot let anyone take away our joy. 

My wife and I with one of the local Norwegians

I came to encourage and educate about Israel, but I returned to Israel, encouraged by their love. It was indeed a love invasion. It was an unforgettable trip to potentially the most pro-Israel village in the world.

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