By Mackenzi Klemann | Echo
Sweden's government announced it would formally recognize the state of Palestine, indicating a two-state solution was the only reasonable path towards peace between Palestinians and the Israeli Government.
Swedish Foreign Minister, Margot Wallstrom, said on Oct. 30 that recognizing Palestine would put Israel and the leadership of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on a level playing field, helping to move peace talks forward, according to Al Jazeera.
As Palestinian leadership celebrated the move, Israel recalled its ambassador to Sweden to Jerusalem in protest. Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman said the the decision would strengthen radical elements and Palestinian insubordinance, the New York Times reported.
"The Swedish government must understand that relations in the Middle East are more complex than one of Ikea's flat-pack pieces of furniture and would do well to act with greater sensitivity and responsibility," Lieberman said.
While 130 other nations already recognize Palestine as an independent state, most Western countries do not. Sweden joins a short list of European nations to officially recognize Palestine and is arguably the most influential one to do so thus far.
Reuters adds: "With (Sweden's) reputation as an honest broker in international affairs and with an influential voice in EU foreign policy, the decision may well make other countries sit up and pay attention at a time when the Palestinians are threatening unilateral moves toward statehood."
Sweden's decision comes at a time of international frustration with Israel's settlement policies in the West Bank and East Jerusalem (controlled by Israel), The New York Times reported. Solidarity rallies erupted throughout Europe and the U.S. in protest to the violence in Gaza, mounting pressure on Western nations to act.
The French government indicated earlier this month that it too will have to recognize the state of Palestine, but it hasn't specified when.
Israel has long argued against Palestinian diplomatic recognition as a solution to the nation's problems. Instead, Israel insists on direct negotiations with Palestinian officials, Al Jazeera reported.
U.S. diplomats called Sweden's decision "premature," and have made no indication of supporting it. However, Sweden's government countered this idea and believes the international law criteria for recognition of a Palestinian state has been fulfilled.
