Swedish Government Reaffirms Unity Amid Policy Shift on Israel

Following a significant policy shift regarding Israel after the recent Gaza conflict, Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson asserted on SVT's Agenda that his government remains united on foreign policy matters. Despite internal criticisms, Kristersson firmly denied any discord, stating, "We are not disagreeing on foreign policy. You are painting a picture that you then accuse me of, it's a false image. We are united," (source 38639).

The shift in Sweden's approach, which transitioned from resisting a halt to the EU's trade agreement with Israel to favoring a freeze, has provoked reactions from members of the Tidö Cooperation government. Sweden Democrats leader Jimmie Åkesson labeled the new stance as "a failure," while Vice Prime Minister Ebba Busch expressed concerns that the focus on Israel has overshadowed the conflict's complexities, emphasizing that Hamas bears responsibility for the ongoing situation (sources 38639, 38668).

Kristersson reiterated that there is a single coherent line in foreign policy, as articulated by Foreign Minister Tobias Billström, and clarified that while advocating for Israel's right to exist is vital, it does not mean supporting every action of its government. He also ruled out conceding influence over foreign policy decisions to the Sweden Democrats, affirming, "No, we have a very clear agreement, foreign policy is governed by the government" (source 38639).