Israel has condemned the “shocking” and “hostile” comments made by Sweden’s Foreign Minister Margot Wallstrom, who has linked the conflict in Israel to the attacks in Paris this weekend.
Speaking on Swedish television, Ms Wallstrom said: “Obviously, we have reason to be worried, not just in Sweden but across the world — because there are so many that are being radicalized. Here, once again, we are brought back to situations like the one in the Middle East where not least, the Palestinians see that there is not a future. We must either accept a desperate situation or resort to violence.”
The Israeli Foreign Ministry issued a statement saying: “Those who engage in hopeless attempts to link the terror attacks by Islamic extremists with the difficulties between Israelis and Palestinians are misleading themselves as well as the public opinion of their country and the international community.
“The Swedish minister is systematically biased and one-sided against Israel,” it continued.
However the Swedish Embassy in Israel issues a clarification over Twitter, stating: “Swe FM has not said that Israeli Palestinian conflict is linked to tragic events in Paris. Sweden condemns all acts of terrorism.”
Swe FM has not said that Israeli Palestinian conflict is linked to tragic events in Paris. Sweden condemns all acts of terrorism.
— Sweden in Israel (@SwedeninIL) November 16, 2015
Dr Moshe Kantor from the European Jewish Congress said of Ms Wallstrom's comments: "She has completely ignored the remarks made by those behind the attacks, Islamic State organization, almost as if depriving them of any agency for their reactions.
"The problem is not so much that the Israel is once again blamed for events that it played absolutely no role in, the larger issue is that if some in the West continuously ignore the true motivations behind these terrorist attacks they will never be able to prevent the next one."