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Full Screen Maria Malmer Stenergard Photo: Carolina Bymo
Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard has made her first official visit to Israel.
The time receives harsh criticism from the opposition.
– It is not worthy of Sweden to have a foreign minister who travels to Israel during an ongoing genocide, says Håkan Svenneling (V).
The Foreign Minister’s trip to Israel and Palestine have taken place under the security situation under great mystery. On the phone she says that she met Israel’s Foreign Minister Gideon Saar.
– From the Swedish side, we are convinced that a two -state solution and a position with ceasefires are required, says Malmer Stenergard.
The visit took place at the same time as new figures on the killing in Gaza were published. According to figures from Hamas, more than 50,000 have died in Gaza since the outbreak of the war on October 7, 2023.
The war began after Hama’s terrorist attack in Israel when 1,200 people died and the hostage was taken.
Israel’s killing of civilians and stops at aid broadcasts with food into Gaza receives harsh criticism. In Sweden, the opposition wants the government to mark harder against Israel.
Has made criticism
Malmer Stenergard says she made criticism during the conversation with the Israeli Foreign Minister.
– We have a close relationship with Israel. When you have it, you can also make criticism and positions where we do not agree. I have criticized both the humanitarian access and the expansion of settlements on the West Bank.
How was it received?
– We have partly different views, but we had a very constructive dialogue where I was given a good opportunity to present Sweden’s position.
50,000 people have been killed since the war began according to new figures, is Israel’s response to the terrorist attack proportionally?
– We have received that question many times. It is an assessment that the Swedish government lets international courts do, of course we support their work. So far, they have concluded that Israel must be done more to protect the civilian population. This is something we have also performed.
The criticism: Becomes part of Israel’s propaganda.
Maria Malmer Stenergard also visited Ramallah in Palestine, but she was not in Gaza, an area described as a humanitarian disaster.
A visit went to Kibbutzen that Hamas attacked on October 7.
– We were taken into houses that were burned, we got to talk to relatives of those who sat hostage and killed by Hamas. These are pictures that I will always carry with me.
The Left Party’s foreign policy spokesman Håkan Svenneling is strongly critical of the Foreign Minister’s journey.
– It is not worthy of Sweden to have a foreign minister who travels to Israel during an ongoing genocide. Where bombs fall over Gaza and armored cars roll in less than a week since the ceasefire was broken. She becomes part of Israel’s propaganda.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar Lade wrote on Wednesday about Malmer Stenergard’s visit to X.
“The dialogue between Israel and Sweden and the relationship between our countries is getting better and better. I praised Sweden for the important decision to stop contributions to UNRWA. We will continue to strengthen the friendship between our countries.”