Netanyahu slams Sweden FM remarks on Palestinian deaths
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has criticized the Swedish foreign minister, who had accused Israeli forces of conducting extrajudicial executions of Palestinians during the recent wave of violence in the occupied territories.
Swedish Foreign Minister Margot Wallstrom told lawmakers on Friday that Israeli soldiers use excessive force during clashes with Palestinians, citing the higher number of Palestinian casualties compared to those of Israel.
“Israel’s response involved extrajudicial executions, and was disproportionate, so the number of the dead on the other side is greater than the original death toll by several factors,” Wallstrom said.
On Sunday, Netanyahu condemned the comments as “scandalous” during a cabinet meeting and even warned of a rupture in Tel Aviv’s diplomatic relations with Sweden.
Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister Tzipi Hotovely also said on Saturday that a “sharp response” would be given to Wallstrom’s remarks.
"Sweden has crossed all red lines in relations with Israel. This is defamation of Israel and the statements are distancing Sweden from the ranks of enlightened nations that can take part in the dialogue about rights in the region,” Hotovely said.
Netanyahu also criticized Palestinian Authority’s chief negotiator Saeb Erekat for expressing his condolence to the family of a Palestinian man who shot and wounded two Israeli settlers in al-Quds (Jerusalem). The Palestinian was killed by Israeli forces at the scene.
Netanyahu said Erekat not only did not condemn the attack but also sympathized with the family of the attacker.
Tensions between Palestinian protesters and Israeli forces in the occupied West Bank and the Gaza Strip continue unabated. The wave of unrest was triggered by Israel’s imposition in August of restrictions on the entry of Palestinian worshipers into the al-Aqsa Mosque compound in East al-Quds.
At least 115 Palestinians and nearly 20 Israelis have been killed in the recent wave of clashes between Palestinians and Israelis since the start of October.
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