Israeli officials angry as Palestinian embassy opens in Sweden

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Sweden's Prime Minister Stefan Lofven (L) welcomes Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas at the Rosenbad government headquarters in Stockholm February 10, 2015. Abbas will meet Sweden's new prime minister on Tuesday to further international support for his cause after the Nordic state infuriated Israel when it became the first major European country to recognise Palestine as a state
Sweden’s Prime Minister Stefan Lofven (L) welcomes Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas at the Rosenbad government headquarters in Stockholm February 10, 2015. Abbas will meet Sweden’s new prime minister on Tuesday to further international support for his cause after the Nordic state infuriated Israel when it became the first major European country to recognise Palestine as a state
The Palestinian Authority has opened their first embassy in Western Europe in Sweden on Monday.

“We are extending our hands to a just peace based on the international legitimacy resolutions,” Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said a Stockholm press conference with Sweden’s Prime Minister Stefan Lofven. 

“According to our view, Palestine is from now on a state,” Prime Minister Lofven said at the press conference. “Therefore our expectations from Palestine and its leaders are going to grow.”

Sweden became the first Western European Union-member state, joining 135 out of 193 countries, who have fully or partially recognized a Palestinian state, according to RT. Until the formal announcement, the Palestinian Authority (PA) operated a General Delegation of Palestine in Sweden, based out of Stockholm. 

“It does not make us happy to see (Abbas) here on a visit with a new government that very quickly decided to recognize Palestine,” Israeli Ambassador to Stockholm Isaac Bachmantold the Times of Israel.  

Under the new agreement, Sweden will commit to raising aid to the PA by $180 million over the next five years. However, Prime Minister Lofven said that the commitment comes with a mandate for the Palestinian Authority to preside over a society controlled by the rule of law. The increased funding will be used to fighting corruption, advancing human rights, and gender equality, according to the Times of Israel. 

Pro-Palestinian supporters position a giant banner calling for a recognised Palestinian State, in Parliament Square, central London on Oct. 13, 2014.
Pro-Palestinian supporters position a giant banner calling for a recognised Palestinian State, in Parliament Square, central London on Oct. 13, 2014.
Sweden had officially recognized the Palestinian state this past October, joining Malta, Iceland, and Cyprus as the only other European nations to do so, according to Slate. Israel has claimed that Palestinian independence and recognition by the United Nations or by individual countries only undermines the peace process. 

Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman called Swedish recognition at the time, “A miserable decision that strengthens the extremist elements and Palestinian rejectionism.”

Sweden had been urging its Scandinavian neighbors to follow suit by formally recognizing the Palestinian state. The Parliaments of Spain, Ireland, Great Britain and France have all voted to recognize Palestine, against the will of the Israelis, according to a separate story from RT. 

Relations between Israel and Sweden are still tender because Israel was not in favor of the formal establishment of a Palestinian embassy in a prominent EU-member state. President Abbas’ visit to the Scandinavian country comes a month following a senior Israeli official barring Swedish Foreign Minister Margot Wallstroem, from any official visits to Israel. Ms. Wallstroem said she would seize on Mr. Abbas’s visit as an opportunity to revitalize peace talks, according to the Times of Israel.

Christian Science Monitor

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6 responses to “Israeli officials angry as Palestinian embassy opens in Sweden”

  1. AkhouManUki Avatar
    AkhouManUki

    Israelis must be fuming over this. How dare a western nation recognize the same organization that Israel is hoping will miraculously disappear. How ironic that Netanwahoo has made no mention of Palestinians in his campaign.

  2. 5thDrawer Avatar

    How many Embassies can Abbas afford?? What’s his GDP??
    However, Sweden shouldn’t worry about the Israeli one disappearing. 🙂

    Does anyone remember me mentioning the Lebanese ‘consular office’ in Toronto?? It felt homey and unique.
    A desk, a file cabinet, 2 chairs, and a flag … in the corner of a nice furniture store. Friendly staff.

    1. Patience2 Avatar

      And you could always find something to sit on.

  3. 5thDrawer Avatar

    A Minus 22 lovely sunny morning again … clear skies … might need to put something on besides the blanket.

    1. sweetvirgo Avatar

      It’s a little warmer here in the windy city….it’s 10 and sunny ;)))

      1. 5thDrawer Avatar

        I am filled with envy. 😉 But the sun heats my chair now … through the window.:-)))

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