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Israel recalled its ambassador to Sweden on Thursday in protest of the Scandinavian country's decision to recognize a Palestinian state, a source with the Foreign Ministry confirmed to Xinhua.
Yitzhak Bachman, Israel's ambassador in Stockholm, was "brought back for consultations," according to the source, following Sweden 's announcement earlier on Thursday. Bachman will return to Jerusalem until further notice.
The source also added that the Israeli foreign minister would consider whether to send the ambassador back to Sweden or not eventually. The diplomatic relations between the two countries would be demoted if the ambassador does not return.
Sweden is the first major Western country to recognize a Palestinian state. Swedish Foreign Minister Margot Wallstrom told reporters that the motivation behind the act is "to facilitate a peace agreement by making the parties less unequal, supporting the moderate Palestinian forces and contributing to hope when tensions are increasing and no peace talks are taking place," the Jerusalem Post cited her as saying in an official statement.
Wallstrom added that the move aims "to contribute to a future in which Israel and Palestine can live side by side in peace and security ... creating more hope and belief in the future among young Palestinians and Israelis who might otherwise run the risk of believing there is no alternative to the current situation."
The Swedish foreign minister also stressed the importance of the timing of the decision, as "the peace talks have stalled (and) decisions over new settlements on occupied Palestinian land have complicated a two-state solution and how violence returned to Gaza. "
The dramatic move did not come as a surprise. In early October, newly elected Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Lovfen announced in his inaugural address that the government would recognize a Palestinian state.
Israeli officials on Thursday slammed Sweden's decision, which is, according to hawkish Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman, an " unfortunate move" that would "serve to reinforce extremist elements."
"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.
He also said the measure "only bolsters the Palestinians' unrealistic demands and delay any agreement," as "the only way to reach an agreement ... is for the parties to conduct sincere negotiations."
Israel suspended negotiations with the Palestinian Authority in April following the establishment of the Palestinian national unity government along with Hamas. Israel later fought against Hamas-led militants in the Gaza Strip for nearly two months in the summer.
After the latest Gaza war, Israel has recently announced another plan to construct more than 1,000 housing units in east Jerusalem, where more than 300,000 Palestinians live but was annexed by Israel in 1967. It also continued to announce construction of new housing units as well as land annexation in the West Bank territories in the past several months, making it even harder to create a continuation of lands in what is set to be the future peace agreement.
In recent months, Palestinian Authority officials have pled their case internationally trying to get recognition through international organizations. Despite the suspension of the peace talks, they are pushing for a resolution to end the Israeli occupation of the West Bank, east Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip. Enditem
