Updated 18.22 | Published 18.04
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Sweden is pausing development aid to the Palestinian territories, the government and the Sweden Democrats announce.
At the same time, the Swedish aid agency Sida is tasked with reviewing the aid.
– It is justified that Sweden, like many EU countries, is taking this break, says Minister for Aid Johan Forssell (M) at a press conference.
The development support is paused until further notice.
– We will also give Sida an assignment to review the aid to Palestine, which must be completed by December 1, 2023, says Forssell.
The government has taken the decision together with the Sweden Democrats.
– I think it shows strength, political strength, in this situation, where it is very important that Sweden stands up and shows support for Israel, says SD leader Jimmie Åkesson.
– Swedish tax money risks going to things that legitimize terror.
“A new situation”
TT: Are there any indications that Swedish development aid ends up or has ended up in the pockets of Hamas?
– There are already today control mechanisms to control this. It is Sida that does it. At the same time, one must realize that we have a new situation now after October 7, both in terms of the size of the terrorist attacks that have taken place, but also the fact that the Palestinian leadership has not clearly distanced itself from these heinous terrorist acts , says Johan Forssell.
Last year, Sweden provided a total of SEK 453 million to the Palestinians, according to OpenAid.
SEK 427 million
The Swedish aid agency Sida accounted for the largest part, SEK 427 million. The rest was mediated by, among others, the Folke Bernadotte Academy, the Prison and Probation Service, the Public Prosecutor’s Office and the Agency for Community Protection and Preparedness.
Sida aid consists of two parts – development aid and humanitarian aid.
Development aid is given to both Gaza and the West Bank. According to Sida, the largest part goes to civil society organizations and multilateral organizations, such as various UN agencies and the like, which work to promote democratic development, human rights, equality and anti-corruption.
A smaller portion, less than 1 percent, is said to go directly to the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank.
Even countries such as Germany, Austria and Denmark have said they are pausing all disbursements of their own aid to the Palestinian territories.
The EU has also announced that all development aid to the Palestinians must be reviewed.