(cont.) Response to interpellation 2024/25:32 on Sweden's vote in the UN vote on Israel and the West Bank
Translated from Swedish by AI; the translation may contain errors. The Swedish text is the original.
Summary AI, written in advance
S considers that Sweden has always upheld international law 1. The party argues that Israel's occupation undermines peace processes and that the occupation is illegal according to UN Security Council resolutions and the International Court of Justice's advisory opinions 1. S considers that every year without action means that Palestinian people live under oppression, which creates fear and terrorism 1. The party urges the government to take a stand against the occupation, refrain from economic cooperation that legitimizes the situation, and promote a two-state solution based on the 1967 borders 1. S also wants the Foreign Minister to consider whether Sweden should contribute to the continuation of trade with Israel 1.
Written by AI in advance and may contain errors. The numbers lead to the speech a statement builds on; check against the text below.
Azra Muranovic (S)
Mr. Speaker! First, I want to point out that what just happened here in the gallery is incredibly inappropriate, regardless of what opinions one holds. Furthermore, to throw an object at the Minister for Foreign Affairs is completely unacceptable. I hope that we will not see more of that. I am glad that the Minister for Foreign Affairs is back.
I return to the interpellation. We in Sweden have always upheld international law. The Foreign Minister said that we members did not hear that. I quoted the Foreign Minister just regarding the advisory opinions from the International Court of Justice, where I thought it was very important to note that Sweden views these opinions as fundamentally authoritative interpretations of international law.
It is clear that Israel, through its occupation, undermines the peace processes that should lead to a two-state solution. The occupation is not only a political issue but also an issue of human rights and justice. The UN Security Council resolutions and the International Court of Justice's advisory opinions are clear: the occupation is illegal. The international community, including Sweden, has a duty not to support this situation.
Setting a deadline for an Israeli withdrawal from occupied territories is seen by the government as problematic, but the question we must ask ourselves is: How long will the international community allow illegal actions to continue without us acting? Israel has occupied Palestinian territories for over 50 years, and every year that passes without us taking action is a year where Palestinian men, women, and children continue to live under the oppression of the occupation. In this way, both fear and terrorism are created.
If we truly want a negotiated two-state solution, we must also be clear about what applies. We must stand more clearly up for humanitarian law and point out when it is violated, regardless of what difficulties it entails for an ongoing negotiation. Let us also remember that a just peace cannot be achieved without justice for all involved parties, both Palestinians and Israelis.
I therefore urge the government to continue to stand up for international law by clearly and distinctly marking against the ongoing occupation in all diplomatic contexts, by refraining from economic cooperation or trade relations that in any way legitimize or reinforce the illegal situation in occupied areas, as well as by promoting a just and lasting peace in the region through support for a two-state solution based on, as the Foreign Minister said, the 1967 borders, with Jerusalem as a shared capital for both Israel and Palestine.
Will the Minister for Foreign Affairs consider any of the demands? What concrete steps is the Minister for Foreign Affairs prepared to take to achieve a two-state solution and at the same time respect international law? Is she prepared to work for the EU to pause the association agreement with Israel, or shall Sweden contribute to the continuation of trade with this state and in that way contribute to the maintenance of an occupation that violates international principles?
Source: The Swedish Parliament. The speeches come from the open data of the Riksdag, translated into English by AI, which may contain errors.