Israel slams Sweden for linking IS to Palestinian grievances

Israel excoriates the Swedish foreign minister for implying that resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict could help pacify the radical Islamic State group.

In a statement, the Foreign Ministry says Margot Wallström’s comments to that effect were “shockingly brazen.”

It adds, “The Swedish foreign minister is systematically biased against Israel and displays outright hostility by pointing to any link between the terror attacks in Paris and the difficulties between Israel and the Palestinians.”

Wallström had reportedly said, “To counteract the radicalization we must go back to the situation such as the one in the Middle East in which not at the least the Palestinians sees that there is no future; we must either accept a desperate situation or resort to violence.”

The Foreign Ministry said that the Swedish ambassador to Israel has been summoned for a clarification with the ministry’s director, Dore Gold.

In its statement, the Foreign Ministry blasts the “senseless attempt to create a link” between the attacks and Israel, saying such rhetoric is not only self-deceptive, but “also deceives the international public.”