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“It is too bad that the government of Sweden has chosen to adopt the measure that does a lot of damage and has no benefits.”
Israel Today Staff — The Swedish government became the first E.U. member to officially recognize a Palestinian state on Thursday, preempting final status negotiations, and drawing ire from Israel.Newly elected Swedish Prime Minister, Stefan Lofven, first announced his government's intended decision at his swearing-in ceremony on Oct. 3, but his government was not expected to follow through so soon.
“Some will claim that today’s decision comes too early. I’m rather afraid it’s too late,” wrote Foreign Minister Margot Wallstrom in the Swedish daily Dagens Nyheter. “The past year, we’ve seen how the peace negotiations once again have halted, how decisions on new settlements on occupied Palestinian land have obstructed a two-state solution and how violence has returned to Gaza.”
Wallstrom writes that the recognition aims to support moderate forces among the Palestinians, make future negotiations more equal and give young Palestinians hope of a peaceful solution to the conflict.
Israel has publicly protested the move, which some believe is feeding unrealistic Palestinian expectations of working out a resolution with the international community but without involving Israel.
"It is too bad that the government of Sweden has chosen to adopt the measure that does a lot of damage and has no benefits. Sweden must understand that relations in the Middle East are much more complicated than self-assembly furniture at Ikea," Israel's Foreign Minister Avigdor Liberman said.
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The God Of Abraham, Isaac, And Jacob Regarding Israel
And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed. ~ Genesis 12:3