Foreign Ministry spokesman Emmanuel Nahshon said that “given the incendiary and aggressive nature” of Margot Wallstrom’s comments, “we have made it clear that she is not welcome in Israel”. The rest were killed in clashes with security personnel. United Methodist Kairos Response (UMKR), an advocacy group, called the move “the first time a major church pension fund has acted to preclude investment in Israeli banks that sustain Israel’s illegal occupation of Palestinian land”.
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Tensions in the occupied territories have dramatically escalated since the Israeli regime’s imposition of restrictions in August on the entry of Palestinian worshipers to the al-Aqsa Mosque compound in East al-Quds.
“We condemn Israeli crimes and violations”, Palestinian Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Wednesday, “We welcome voices that condemn and criticize the killing of civilians”.
In early December a year ago, Wallstrom said Israeli military forces exercise “extrajudicial executions” or employ disproportionate force in clashes with Palestinian protesters, citing as “ostensible” proof the higher number of Palestinian casualties compared to those of Israel.
Near-daily Palestinian attacks using guns, knives and cars have killed 24 Israelis and one American student. However, politicians on the left said that it was an attempt by some on the right to “smear” the entire human rights movement.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused the European Union on Thursday of holding his country to a double standard, and reserved special criticism for Sweden, saying its call to investigate Israel was outrageous, immoral and stupid.
Israel says the violence is being fanned by a Palestinian campaign of lies and incitement spread by religious and political leaders and on social media.
“In light of the damaging and baseless positions of the Swedish minister, she has removed herself, and Sweden, in the near future, from any role – or any semblance of a role – in handling the relations between Israel and the Palestinians”.
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Some observers attribute the recent uptick in violence to a July arson attack in the West Bank by suspected Jewish settlers that killed an 18-month-old Palestinian child and his parents – an attack that prompted an global outcry and widespread outrage among Palestinians. The remarks followed a warning by a senior Yaalon adviser that the U.S.-backed Palestinian administration, which quietly coordinates West Bank security efforts with Israel despite the diplomatic impasse between the sides, might change course.
