Palestine state gets Sweden nod

Swedish Foreign Minister Margot Wallstroem said: “We are not picking sides. We’re choosing the side of the peace process.”

Palestinians are seeking to achieve statehood in the Israeli-occupied West Bank and Gaza with east Jerusalem as the capital. With little progress on reaching a settlement, they have been lobbying foreign powers for international recognition.

Sweden’s move comes as Israeli-Palestinian tensions soar in Jerusalem following months of almost daily clashes in the occupied eastern sector. Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas hailed Stockholm’s decision as “brave and historic”.

Sweden’s PM Stefan Loefven announced in October that his country would become the first EU member in western Europe to recognise a Palestinian state. The US, meanwhile, cautioned Sweden against recognition, calling the step “premature”.

Israel upset over decision:

Israel’s foreign minister Avigdor Lieberman described the step as “a miserable decision that strengthens the extremist elements and Palestinian rejectionism,” adding: “It’s a shame that Sweden took a declarative step that causes harm.”