Jump to content

Mona Juul

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Not to be confused with Mona Juul (Danish politician).
Mona Juul
Juul in 2009
75th President of the United Nations Economic and Social Council
In office
25 July 2019 – 23 July 2020
Preceded byInga Rhonda King
Succeeded byMunir Akram
Permanent Representative of Norway to the United Nations
In office
14 January 2019 – 1 September 2023
Prime MinisterErna Solberg
Jonas Gahr Støre
Preceded byTore Hattrem
Succeeded byMerete Fjeld Brattested
Ambassador of Norway to the United Kingdom
In office
2014–2019
Prime MinisterErna Solberg
Preceded byKim Traavik
Succeeded byWegger Chr. Strømmen
Personal details
Born (1959-04-10) 10 April 1959 (age 66)
Steinkjer, Nord-Trøndelag, Norway
PartyLabour
Spouse
​
(m. 1988)​
EducationUniversity of Oslo (MA)
ProfessionDiplomat
Politician

Mona Juul (born 10 April 1959) is a Norwegian diplomat and a former politician for the Labour Party. The Epstein files revealed that she and her husband Terje Rød-Larsen had a close association with Jeffrey Epstein.[1][2] In 2026 she was placed on administrative leave.[3] Her security clearance was also revoked.[4] Mona Juul resigned as Norway's Ambassador to Jordan and Iraq in February 2026, following discussions with Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Norway). Minister of Foreign Affairs (Norway) Espen Barth Eide stated how Juul's contact with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein had shown a serious failure of judgment, and that the case made it difficult to rebuild the trust that the role requires.[5][6]

Juul has previously worked for the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs for decades and has been an ambassador to several countries. Juul hails from Sparbu, and was educated in political science. She played a key role facilitating the Oslo Accords in the 1990s. On 25 July 2019, Juul was elected President of the United Nations Economic and Social Council.[7]

Oslo Accords

[edit]

Along with her husband Terje Rød-Larsen, Juul played a key role in the 1990s Oslo Accords—pivotal agreements on Middle East peace. The secret negotiations, largely arranged and facilitated by Juul and her husband, led to the peace agreement signing on 13 September 1993 in Washington D.C., of the first-ever agreement between Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO).[8][9][10][11]

Juul and the rest of the Oslo team of facilitators focused on the conflict between Israel and the PLO, knowing that a peace agreement would have to be created by the adversaries themselves and that a group acting as mediator would be vital in making appropriate arrangements for negotiations.

When Mona Juul and husband Terje Rød-Larsen received a special award from the Peres Center for Peace in Israel on January 11, 1999, they did not notify the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs reportedly only learned of the 100,000 USD in prize money when the Israeli newspaper Ma'ariv reported on the matter.[12]

The Oslo Accords have been heavily criticised and subject to controversy. Experts argue that the Oslo Accords put Norwegian peace diplomacy on the map, but created an unbalanced process that strengthened Israel's security and occupation, while central Palestinian demands such as refugee rights, the status of Jerusalem, and a freeze on settlements were omitted.[13][14][15]

Researcher Hilde Henriksen Waage revealed that documents from nine months of the process, from January to September 1993, were missing from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Norway)'s archives.[16]

The 2016 Broadway play, Oslo by noted playwright J. T. Rogers, dramatized the role of Juul and her husband, and others, in developing the back-channel communications that (reportedly) saved the Oslo negotiations from collapsing.[8][9][10][11]

An HBO film, dramatizing the Oslo Accords and the role of Juul and her husband, came out in 2021. The film was criticised for reinforcing misconceptions about Norway as a peace nation and what peace negotiations actually are.[17] The film received mixed reviews from Norwegian critics.[18][19]

21st Century Career

[edit]

During the first Stoltenberg cabinet, from 2000 to 2001, Juul was appointed State Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. From 2001 to 2004 she served as the Norwegian ambassador to Israel. From 2005 to 2010, she served as a deputy director and ambassador in the Norwegian delegation to the United Nations in New York City. In 2014, she succeeded Kim Traavik as Ambassador to the United Kingdom.[20]

On 7 September 2018, she was nominated to become the next permanent representative of Norway to the United Nations.[21] She presented her credentials to UN Secretary General António Guterres on 14 January 2019, and assumed office the same day.[22] As permanent representative, she notably spearheaded the successful Norwegian campaign for a seat at the UN Security Council for the 2021–2022 term.[23] In January 2023, Merete Fjeld Brattested was nominated as her successor.[24] Brattested officially took over on 1 September.[25]

In October 2024, she was nominated as the new ambassador to Jordan.[26] In October 2025, she was additionally appointed ambassador to Iraq.[27]

Juul's two children were listed in Jeffrey Epstein's will to receive five million dollars each.[28] In February 2026 Juul was released from her job as ambassador, while the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs was investigating her connections to Epstein.[29]

Mona Juul resigned from her post as ambassador to Iraq and Jordan in February 2026, following the revelations of her contact and involvement with Jeffrey Epstein.[30][31]

Association with Jeffrey Epstein

[edit]

Following the release of additional 3.5 million responsive pages in the Compliance with the Epstein Files Transparency Act by the U.S. Department of Justice in January 2026 [32], Mona Juul and Terje Rød-Larsen were mentioned. The files suggested Jeffrey Epstein had signed 10 million USD to be given to Terje Rød-Larsen and Mona Juul's children in his will, which was signed two days before his death.[33]. Mona Juul commented that they were only aware of the information about the will through the media, and that beyond this, the family did not wish to comment on the matter further.[34]

In April 2011, Mona Juul was listed as a passenger with her husband Terje Rød-Larsen and their two children on a planned trip in May 2011 on one of Jeffrey Epstein's private planes, a Beechjet 400.[35]

According to correspondence from the Epstein Files, former Prime Minister of Israel, Ehud Barak suggested in May 2018 that Mona Juul could help with an Israeli intelligence company called Toka.[36] Mona Juul proceeded to send an e-mail with the topic title "Kjell G." to an e-mail adress that has been redacted. This mail was forwarded to Jeffrey Epstein by Mona Juul's husband Terje Rød-Larsen.[37]

During the Summer of 2018, Mona Juul had bought a luxury apartment in Frogner, Oslo, Norway. The apartment was reportedly sold for half of its market value for 14 million NOK.[38]. The shipowner Morits Skaugen, who sold the apartment, said that it did not happen voluntarily. The Epstein files showed extensive communication between Jeffrey Epstein and Mona Juul's husband Terje Rød-Larsen about negotiations for the lease and option agreement.[39][40] In a statement to Norwegian broadcaster NRK, Skaugen stated he experienced significant pressure from Jeffrey Epstein, from whom he has clearly distanced himself, and it had been and still was, deeply burdensome for him personally.[41] Skaugen described the actions taken by Juul and Rød-Larsen with the help of Epstein as "mafia methods."[42]

In October 2020, Mona Juul's husband Terje Rød-Larsen resigned from his position as President of the International Peace Institute (IPI) when it was revealed he had received donations from Jeffrey Epstein through the foundation.[43] In November 2020 it was reported that Jeffrey Epstein had funded a special performance of the Tony-award winning play "Oslo" for the International Peace Institute. When asked several questions, among others if she knew about Epstein’s funding of and presence at the special performance, Mona Juul did not want to comment.[44] In December 2020 Mona Juul stated she had no knowledge of any financial relationship between IPI, Jeffrey Epstein and her husband. She referred to what her husband had said to the IPI board, that it was a serious misjudgment to take out a personal loan from Epstein.[45]

In February 2026, Mona Juul finally commented on her communications with Jeffrey Epstein, stating it was inaccurate to describe her contact with him as minimal.[46] She was exempt from her work obligations from her position as Ambassador in February 2026 in which the Ministry of Foreign Affairs investigated her knowledge of and contact with Jeffrey Epstein.[47] The Ministry of Foreign Affairs investigated whether Juul had complied with the law for government employees.[48]

Personal Life

[edit]

Juul is married to Terje Rød-Larsen and they have two children. Juul is close friends with the prominent Conservative Party (Norway) politician and former Norwegian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ine Eriksen Søreide.[49][50]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Millioner av dollar, Apple-klokker og luksussko. Slik hjalp Jeffrey Epstein den norske diplomatfamilien". Aftenposten. Retrieved 6 February 2026.
  2. ^ "Dette vet vi om Mona Juuls kontakt med Epstein". Retrieved 6 February 2026.
  3. ^ "Epstein-saken: Terje Rød-Larsen og Mona Juul skal ha hver sin advokat". Rett24. Retrieved 6 February 2026.
  4. ^ "Mona Juul: Mister tilgang til gradert informasjon". Finansavisen. Retrieved 6 February 2026.
  5. ^ https://www.dagsavisen.no/nyheter/ud-mona-juul-gar-av-som-ambassador/10192291
  6. ^ https://www.tv2.no/nyheter/mona-juul-gar-av-som-ambassador/18537634/
  7. ^ "President of ECOSOC". Retrieved 18 September 2019.
  8. ^ a b Brantley, Ben, "Review: A Byzantine Path to Middle East Peace in 'Oslo'," July 11, 2016, New York Times retrieved May 6, 2017
  9. ^ a b Jones, Chris, "'Argo' and the new play 'Oslo' are stories about heroes nobody knows," April 21, 2017, Chicago Tribune retrieved May 6, 2017
  10. ^ a b Rose, Charlie (interviewer), with interviewees diplomat Terje Rød-Larsen, playwright J. T. Rogers, and director Bartlett Sher, with other segments, in Charlie Rose: The Week, May 5, 2017, (Video) as aired May 6, 2017, Public Broadcasting System (PBS), retrieved May 6, 2017
  11. ^ a b Rogers, J.T. (playwright), Theater: "'Oslo' and the Drama in Diplomacy", June 17, 2016, The New York Times retrieved May 6, 2017
  12. ^ https://www.dagbladet.no/nyheter/terje-rod-larsen-burde-vaert-pa-ullersmo/84186310
  13. ^ https://snl.no/Oslo-avtalen
  14. ^ https://www.nrk.no/dokumentar/oslo-avtalen_-20-ar-uten-fred-1.11229234
  15. ^ https://www.forskning.no/krig-og-fred-midtosten-ntb/forsker-oslo-avtalen-var-en-diplomatisk-bragd-men-sikret-israel-vetorett/2249523
  16. ^ https://www.nrk.no/urix/flere-partier-krever-gransking-av-rod-larsens-_privatarkiv_-fra-oslo-avtalen-1.17759795
  17. ^ https://www.nrk.no/kultur/professor-ved-uio-hilde-henriksen-waage-kritiserer-filmen-om-oslo-avtalen-1.15530771
  18. ^ https://www.vg.no/rampelys/i/weabB4/filmanmeldelse-oslo-da-vafler-skulle-redde-verden
  19. ^ https://www.nrk.no/filmpolitiet/anmeldelse_-_oslo_-1.17228971
  20. ^ "Norway in the United Kingdom". Norgesportalen. Retrieved 27 April 2018.
  21. ^ "Mona Juul utnevnt til ny FN-ambassadør" (in Norwegian). Verdens Gang. 7 September 2018. Retrieved 24 April 2023.
  22. ^ "Mona Juul på plass i New York med mål om å få Norge i Sikkerhetsrådet" (in Norwegian). Dagsavisen. 15 January 2019. Retrieved 24 April 2023.
  23. ^ "Norge vil ha et sete ved maktens bord. Mona Juul er kvinnen som skal skaffe det" (in Norwegian). Aftenposten. 1 March 2019. Retrieved 29 December 2023.
  24. ^ "Flere nye ambassadører utnevnt" (in Norwegian). Adresseavisen. 27 January 2023. Retrieved 29 December 2023.
  25. ^ "New Permanent Representative of Norway Presents Credentials". UN Press. 1 September 2023. Retrieved 29 December 2023.
  26. ^ "Mona Juul blir ambassadør i Jordan" (in Norwegian Bokmål). Nettavisen. 18 October 2024. Retrieved 18 October 2024.
  27. ^ "Mona Juul blir ny ambassadør i Irak" (in Norwegian Bokmål). Aftenposten. 7 October 2025. Retrieved 7 October 2025.
  28. ^ NRK (2026-01-31). "Norske diplomatbarn skulle få 10 millioner dollar i Epstein-testamente". NRK (in Norwegian Bokmål). Retrieved 2026-01-31.
  29. ^ "Eide: Mona Juul fritatt fra arbeidsplikten som ambassadør". nrk.no (in Norwegian). 2 February 2026. Retrieved 2 February 2026.
  30. ^ https://www.dagsavisen.no/nyheter/ud-mona-juul-gar-av-som-ambassador/10192291
  31. ^ https://www.dagbladet.no/nyheter/mona-juul-gar-av-som-ambassador/84205130
  32. ^ https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/department-justice-publishes-35-million-responsive-pages-compliance-epstein-files
  33. ^ https://www.dn.no/politikk/jeffrey-epstein/terje-rod-larsen/mona-juul/jeffrey-epstein-testamenterte-ti-millioner-dollar-til-norske-diplomatbarn/2-1-1937068
  34. ^ https://www.nrk.no/nyheter/norske-diplomatbarn-skulle-fa-10-millioner-dollar-i-epstein-testamente-1.17750486
  35. ^ https://filternyheter.no/mona-juul-knyttet-til-ferie-i-bermuda-med-epstein-privatfly-maneder-for-hun-ble-ud-ekspedisjonssjef/
  36. ^ https://www.vg.no/nyheter/i/oE6adj/ba-epstein-om-mona-juul-hjelp-med-israelsk-etteretningsselskap
  37. ^ https://www.vg.no/nyheter/i/oE6adj/ba-epstein-om-mona-juul-hjelp-med-israelsk-etteretningsselskap
  38. ^ https://www.tv2.no/nyheter/borge-brende-ble-trukket-inn-i-rod-larsens-leilighetskjop/18531400/
  39. ^ https://www.tv2.no/nyheter/borge-brende-ble-trukket-inn-i-rod-larsens-leilighetskjop/18531400/
  40. ^ https://www.nrk.no/norge/slik-brukte-terje-rod-larsen-epstein-som-boligutpresser_-_-det-var-sa-jaevlig-1.17752905
  41. ^ https://www.nrk.no/norge/slik-brukte-terje-rod-larsen-epstein-som-boligutpresser_-_-det-var-sa-jaevlig-1.17752905
  42. ^ "Skipsreder Morits Skaugen om Epstein-møte: –⁠ Min familie skulle få lide". VG. Retrieved 6 February 2026.
  43. ^ https://www.nrk.no/norge/dn_-terje-rod-larsen-trekker-seg-fra-international-peace-institute-1.15221739
  44. ^ https://www.dn.no/politikk/jeffrey-epstein/terje-rod-larsen/mona-juul/jeffrey-epstein-funded-special-performance-of-tony-award-winning-play-for-the-un-community/2-1-918850
  45. ^ https://www.aftenposten.no/norge/politikk/i/vAkwRX/dn-fn-ambassadoer-mona-juul-sier-hun-ikke-visste-om-ektemannens-forbindelser-til-jeffrey-epstein
  46. ^ https://www.dn.no/mona-juul/jeffrey-epstein/mona-juul-om-epstein-kontakt-burde-vart-langt-mer-varsom/2-1-1937586
  47. ^ https://www.vg.no/nyheter/i/K8p7v5/mona-juul-om-epstein-kontakt-burde-vaert-langt-mer-varsom
  48. ^ https://www.dn.no/politikk/ud-kartlegger-om-juul-har-fulgt-loven-for-statsansatte/2-1-1938544
  49. ^ https://filternyheter.no/soreide-ble-informert-som-utenriksminister-om-varsel-mot-rod-larsens-tankesmie-er-mona-juuls-naere-venninne/
  50. ^ https://www.nrk.no/norge/filter-nyheter_-soreide-informert-om-epstein-varsel-i-ud-i-2019-1.17759508
[edit]
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Mona_Juul&oldid=1337347831"