Sweden officially recognizes state of Palestine

Sweden has officially recognized the state of Palestine, less than a month after its new centre-left government led by Prime Minister Stefan Lofven announced its intentions to do so. Palestinians cheered Sweden’s decision on Thursday and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas praised Sweden’s “brave and historic” move on the AFP news agency.

Swedish Foreign Minister Margot Wallstrom said that Sweden hoped that Israel would meet this decision “in a constructive way”, the Associated Press reported.

Wallstrom said on Thursday that “the [Swedish] government considers that international law criteria for recognition of a Palestinian state have been fulfilled.”

However, Israel recalled its ambassador to Sweden and summoned Sweden’s ambassador to Israel to express their disappointment.

Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman said on Thursday that Sweden’s decision was unfortunate and would strengthen radical Palestinian elements.

Sweden has now become the first Western European EU member state to officially recognize Palestine as a state. Malta, Bulgaria, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, and Romania all already recognize Palestine as a state, as do non-EU member state Iceland. Britain passed a nonbinding resolution in Parliament that gives diplomatic recognition to a Palestinian state earlier this month  

Israel believes that Palestinians should only be recognized as a state following direct negotiations. The United States described Sweden’s move as “premature”, saying that Palestinian statehood could only be achieved following negotiations between Israel and Palestine.

Sweden’s move came amid growing criticism in the West of Israel’s settlement policies in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.