Liberman: Let's hope Sweden's FM doesn't join Palestinian terrorists in stabbing Jews
The Foreign Ministry said Tuesday in a sharply worded statement that Wallstrom is supporting terrorism and encouraging violence.
By DANA SOMBERG, HERB KEINONYisrael Beytenu MK Avigdor Liberman (photo credit: KOBI ZOLTAK)
Yisrael Beytenu head Avigdor Liberman criticized Sweden's foreign minister, Margot Wallstrom, on Tuesday in reaction to her suggestion that Israel should be investigated for extrajudicial killings of Palestinian terrorists."The only thing that Sweden's foreign minister hasn't done yet is physically join Palestinian terrorists and stab Jews," the former foreign minister said. "In light of her conduct now, one is left to really hope that this won't happen."The Foreign Ministry said Tuesday in a sharply worded statement that Wallstrom is supporting terrorism and encouraging violence.During an appearance before parliament in Stockholm, Wallstrom called on Tuesday for an investigation to determine if Israel was guilty of extrajudicial killings of Palestinians during the recent wave of violence, local media reported."It is vital that there is a thorough, credible investigation into these deaths in order to clarify and bring about possible accountability," Wallstrom said during a parliamentary debate, according to news agency TT .The Foreign Ministry issued a statement saying that Wallstrom's “irresponsible and delirious statements are giving support to terrorism and encouraging violence.”Science, Technology and Space Minister Ofir Akunis said an investigation should be conducted instead on "how a woman who so bluntly hates Israel was elected, and still holds the role of foreign minister of Sweden.”This is just the latest of the Swedish diplomat's remarks that has angered Israel and further soured ties between the two countries.Wallstrom made similar accusations of “extrajudicial executions” and “disproportionate” use of force in the Swedish parliament last month, comments that led to a call from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to his Swedish counterpart Stefan Lofven to protest her words.And following the Paris attacks in November, she made comments to Swedish television that the Foreign Ministry took as linking those attacks to Israel’s conflict with the Palestinians.
Ties between Sweden and Israel nose-dived after Sweden announced its recognition of a Palestinian state shortly after Wallstrom center-left Social Democrats won general elections in 2014.Reuters contributed to this report.