Johan Jørgen Holst

Johan Jørgen Holst (29 November 1937 – 13 January 1994) was a Norwegian politician representing Labour, best known for his involvement with the Oslo Accords.

Johan Jørgen Holst
Holst in March 1993
Minister of Foreign Affairs
In office 2 April 1993 – 13 January 1994
Prime Minister	Gro Harlem Brundtland
Preceded by	Thorvald Stoltenberg
Succeeded by	Bjørn Tore Godal
In office 26 February – 9 March 1987 Acting
Prime Minister	Gro Harlem Brundtland
Preceded by	Knut Frydenlund
Succeeded by	Thorvald Stoltenberg
Minister of Defence
In office 3 November 1990 – 2 April 1993
Prime Minister	Gro Harlem Brundtland
Preceded by	Per Ditlev-Simonsen
Succeeded by	Jørgen Kosmo
In office 9 May 1986 – 16 October 1989
Prime Minister	Gro Harlem Brundtland
Preceded by	Rolf Presthus
Succeeded by	Per Ditlev-Simonsen
Personal details
Born	29 November 1937 Oslo, Norway
Died	13 January 1994 (aged 56) Nesodden, Norway
Political party	Labour Party
Spouse(s)	Marianne Heiberg
Relations	Jens Stoltenberg (nephew)
Alma mater	Columbia University (AB)

Holst was Minister of Defence from 1987 to 1989 and from 1990 to April 1993. He then became Minister of Foreign Affairs, a position he held to his death. During his time in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs he was heavily involved in the process that led to the Oslo Accords. He suffered a minor stroke in December 1993 and was admitted to a hospital. He never fully recovered and died a month later. His wife Marianne Heiberg later said that he had worked himself to death with the peace process.

In his memory, the city of Gaza created the Holst Park, an activity center for children of Gaza from 6 to 16. Holst was educated at Oslo Cathedral School, where he completed his examen artium in 1956. He then completed his mandatory military service at the prestigious Russian language program of the Norwegian Armed Forces. He then studied at Columbia College of Columbia University, where he obtained his A.B. in 1960 and where he was honored with its John Jay Award for Distinguished Professional Achievement shortly after his death—the first time the prize had been given posthumously.[1] Through his marriage Mr. Holst was the uncle of Jens Stoltenberg, the prime minister of Norway throughout central parts of the 2000s. Friends of Israel in the Norwegian Labour Movement (Norwegian: Venner av Israel i Norsk Arbeiderbevegelse), planted a forest to his memory in Israel.

References

1. "ABOUT COLUMBIA: HOLST ENVISIONED A FRAGILE WORLD BETTER ORGANIZED". Columbia University Record. May 13, 1994. Retrieved July 12, 2020.

• "Johan Jørgen Holst" (in Norwegian). Storting.

External links

• Civilian-Based Defense in a New Era (free download), a short monograph by Holst
• “Johan Holst, 56, Dies; Helped Israel-P.L.O. Talks,” Associated Press, Jan. 14, 1994