Swedish Government Faces Internal Rift Over EU-Israel Trade Agreement

The Swedish government is grappling with significant internal disagreements regarding the proposal to freeze the trade portion of the EU-Israel association agreement. While the government, led by the Christian Democrats (KD) and Moderates (M), has directed Brussels to act on freezing the trade section promptly, opinions within the coalition are diverging on the conditionality of this decision.

Ebba Busch, KD leader and Vice Prime Minister, has raised concerns that any such freeze ought to be conditional, suggesting it must be justified. This contrasts sharply with the position of Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard and Aid Minister Benjamin Dousa, who advocate for the freeze based on concerns regarding Israel's actions obstructing humanitarian aid to Gaza. This fundamental disagreement underscores a fracture within the coalition, with some Moderates expressing confusion over the government's unified stance.

Critics, including KD MEP Alice Teodorescu Måwe, have noted that the communication regarding the freeze has not accurately reflected previous agreements. She asserted that efforts should focus on holding Hamas accountable rather than penalizing Israel. Political scientist Marie Demker emphasized that public disagreements on foreign policy are unusual and could weaken Sweden's international standing. These tensions highlight the difficulties of maintaining party loyalty, especially within KD, which traditionally supports strong ties with Israel, while conveying a clear government message.