The Norwegian parliament halted its sovereign wealth fund’s “ethical divestment” from Caterpillar over the construction firm’s ties to the Israel Defense Forces. The fund, the largest of its kind, holds $2.1 trillion in assets.

“The world has changed since the ethical guidelines were first adopted” in 2004, Jens Stoltenberg, Oslo’s finance minister, told parliament, as legislators voted 85 to 17 to pause the boycott on Tuesday.

“Divestment recommendations will be placed on a temporary hold for a year while the fund’s guidelines are reviewed,” Stoltenberg said.

The decision drew fierce responses from anti-Israel critics, as Stoltenberg said the move was necessary to “protect” the fund, which includes the seven most valuable global companies that account for 16% of the fund’s stock holdin

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