Sweden’s Foreign Minister Margot Wallström is reported to have made a significant u-turn in her attitude towards Israel.
According to reports from Stockholm, Wallström has agreed to publicly denounce the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement after a Saturday night meeting with former Israel Foreign Minister and Zionist Union MK, Tzipi Livni.
Wallstrom has previously made controversial statements against the Jewish state, including accusing Israel the extrajudicial executions.
According to YNetNews, Livni emphasized to Wallström the importance of her publicly and clearly support Israel’s need to defend itself, as well as her opposition to boycotts against Israel and the BDS movement – especially during the recent wave of terror.
At the end of the meeting, Wallström finally agreed to publicly support Israel’s right to protect itself and oppose BDS. Wallstrom supported the principle of a two-state solution and expressed hope that relations with Israel will return to what they once were.
The u-turn follows a series of anti-Israel comments made by the Swedish FM, which have caused tensions between the two countries.
In November, Wallström was criticised for reportedly saying the terror attacks in Paris were rooted in the frustration of Muslims in the Middle East, including that of Palestinians.
And in December, Wallström told Sweden’s Parliament that Israel’s response to a wave of Palestinian stabbings and car-ramming attacks was “disproportionate,” and seemed to suggest the deaths of many attackers during their terror attacks were tantamount to “extrajudicial executions.”
Tzipi Livni continued to Berlin on Sunday, where she gave a speech at a German government conference against anti-Semitism.
Whilst we are encouraged by the outcome of these discussions, we hope that Sweden’s Foreign Minister will honour her agreement in the days ahead.
