Joseph Sarandos
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Sweden says; If Israel will be IN, you can count us OUT!
Sweden angers Israel with military exercise pullout
REUTERS
6:16 a.m. April 27, 2006
STOCKHOLM – Sweden has angered Israel by pulling its air force out of a multinational peace-keeping drill in Italy in mid-May because Israeli flyers would be taking part.
The Israeli embassy said on Thursday it was 'surprised' by the decision, adding that it seemed to rule out any Swedish role in peace-keeping in the Middle East. It also reprimanded Sweden over a visit by Palestinian Islamic party Hamas next month.
'If Sweden cannot take part in a peacekeeping exercise because Israel participates in it, then we can hardly see Sweden taking part in peacemaking in our region,' said the embassy in Stockholm in a statement. Sweden and Israel's relations are often prickly over the Nordic nation's support for the Palestinians, to which both Sweden and neighbouring Norway have been major aid donors.
Swedish radio reported that six fighter jets had been withdrawn from the Italian exercise in two weeks' time, for which they trained for eight months. Belgian, French, Dutch, British, German, Italian and Norwegian forces are also invited.
'Israeli participation in this kind of peace drill is rather improbable given the political situation in the Middle East,' the radio quoted a Swedish Foreign Ministry official as saying.
Officials at the ministry could not immediately be reached for comment.
Israel was also 'puzzled' by Sweden's decision to allow two members of Hamas' governing council to visit the city of Malmo next month, despite the fact that the European Union, of which Sweden is a member, lists Hamas as a terrorist organisation.
Foreign Minister Jan Eliasson says they will not meet any government officials but could come since the EU bans 'Hamas as an organisation, but not specific individuals'.
The Israeli embassy said the pair were coming 'to garner support for Hamas, that is to say for a terror organization'.
'We do make a connection between these two events and are concerned with Sweden's positions on them,' it said.
In 2004 the Israeli ambassador to Stockholm vandalised an art exhibit in Sweden showing a Palestinian woman suicide bomber in a pool of fake blood, saying it 'legitimised genocide'.
Find this article at:
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/world/20060427-0616-sweden-israel.html
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4/27/2006, 8:40 am
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Incog4
Senior Member
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Re: Sweden says; If Israel will be IN, you can count us OUT!
Joseph
Referring above, to Israel's audaciously belligerent attitude toward Sweden with regard to Sweden allowing two members of Hamas to visit the country, here is more of the same from Israel to Norway, and more of the the same reaction as Sweden's by Norway to Israel.
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The Norway Post
Israeli warning to Norway
Israel's ambassador to Norway, Miryam Shomrat says it would harm Israel's relations with Norway if Hamas representatives will meet Norwegian authorities next month.
/ np 26.04.2006 08:12
The two representatives for the elected Palestinian Hamas-government will be received by representatives from the Department of Foreign Affairs.
Ambassador Shomrat says such a meeting will imply assisting a terrorist group. She hopes the Government decides not to meet Hamas.
However, a UD spokesman says to NRK that they will themselves decide who they will meet for talks, and that this time they wish to meet with Hamas.
Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg has earlier stated that no government ministers will meet the two Hamas representatives, who have been invited to Norway by a private organization.
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4/28/2006, 7:22 am
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