Israel Summons Sweden Ambassador Over Decision to Recognise Palestinian State

The Israeli Foreign Ministry has summoned Sweden's ambassador to Israel for a "conversation" with Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman in Jerusalem.

Lieberman is to protest Sweden's new government's decision to officially recognise the "state of Palestine", the first long-term European Union member to take such action.

In a statement issued at the weekend, Lieberman said that he "regrets" that new Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Lofven "was in a hurry to make statements on Sweden's position regarding recognition of a Palestinian state, apparently before he had time even to study the issue in depth."

He added that Sweden "must understand that no declaration nor move by an external player will replace direct talks between the sides."

In his inaugural address to the Swedish parliament, Lofven said that the conflict between Israel and Palestine must be "negotiated in accordance with international law."

Lovfen became the Swedish leader after the centre-right coalition of Fredrik Reinfeldt was voted out by the Swedish public following eight years of rule.

"The conflict between Israel and Palestine can only be solved with a two-state solution," Lovfen added.

"A two-state solution requires mutual recognition and a will to peaceful co-existence. Sweden will therefore recognise the state of Palestine."

Lofven did not clarify the timetable for which Sweden will recognise a Palestinian state. When it does so, the Scandinavian country will join 130 nations who also recognise a Palestinian state.

Other European Union nations who recognise Palestine, such as Hungary, Poland and Slovakia, took the action before joining the union.

The Palestinian Authority is seeking the establishment of an independent Palestinian state within the borders before the 1967 Six Day War, in the occupied West Bank and the Gaza Strip with East Jerusalem as its capital.