Petter Graver

Petter Graver (30 May 1920 – 21 January 1995) was a Norwegian jurist who first served as a diplomat from 1947 to 1988, then as a lawyer until his death. He was the Norwegian ambassador to several countries, among them Israel and the Soviet Union.

Early life and career He was born in Tinn to the politician and accountant Torjus Graver. His father was hired as head of accounting in the Norwegian Confederation of Trade Unions in 1933, and the family moved to Bærum. In 1954 Petter Graver married Siren Hognestad.

As a teenager, Petter became active in the Labour Party. He became chair of the Workers' Youth League in Bærum, and also board member in Bærum Labour Party in 1939. He finished his secondary education in 1940, and had his political career interrupted by the occupation of Norway when the Labour Party was declared illegal. As a diplomat he was regarded by US authorities in 1975 as "perceptive, capable and highly intelligent, with a fine appreciation of the 'realities' of dealing with the Soviets. Although understanding and helpful to Americans, he is reportedly an independent thinker and a skillful, tenacious advocate of the Norwegian position."

While serving in Tel Aviv he also acted as the Norwegian ambassador to Cyprus. As Norwegian authorities detained the Mossad agents who killed the innocent Bouchiki, an Israeli group planned to kidnap Graver and demand the liberation of the agents as a ransom. This plan came to light in a 1987 book by Yair Kotler on Meir Kahane, the alleged leader of the plot.

After retiring from the foreign service he started a new career as a lawyer. He was on his way to becoming a barrister, carrying through his first of three trial cases for the Supreme Court of Norway in 1994, at the age of 74. However, he died in January 1995. He was buried at Vestre gravlund. Graver was decorated as a Knight, First Class of the Order of St. Olav (1969), and Commander of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic.