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Netanyahu enters Sweden organ row | Netanyahu enters Sweden organ row |
(about 19 hours later) | |
Israel's prime minister has urged the Swedish government to condemn a Swedish newspaper article that claimed Israeli troops killed Palestinians for organs. | Israel's prime minister has urged the Swedish government to condemn a Swedish newspaper article that claimed Israeli troops killed Palestinians for organs. |
Benjamin Netanyahu joins broad Israeli criticism of the Aftonbladet paper over the claims troops took organs to sell. | Benjamin Netanyahu joins broad Israeli criticism of the Aftonbladet paper over the claims troops took organs to sell. |
An Israeli official quoted him saying: "Statements in the Swedish press were outrageous. We are not expecting an apology - we expect condemnation." | An Israeli official quoted him saying: "Statements in the Swedish press were outrageous. We are not expecting an apology - we expect condemnation." |
Sweden has refused to condemn the article, citing freedom of expression. | Sweden has refused to condemn the article, citing freedom of expression. |
But Mr Netanyahu reportedly compared the claims to medieval "blood libels", which alleged that Jews used the blood of Christian babies during religious ceremonies. | But Mr Netanyahu reportedly compared the claims to medieval "blood libels", which alleged that Jews used the blood of Christian babies during religious ceremonies. |
Israel's Interior Ministry has said it is freezing new visas to Swedish journalists, although those already in Israel can continue working. | Israel's Interior Ministry has said it is freezing new visas to Swedish journalists, although those already in Israel can continue working. |
Ikea boycott mooted | Ikea boycott mooted |
Israeli finance minister Yuval Steinitz said if Sweden would not condemn the story, Israel might cancel a visit by the Swedish foreign minister planned for September. | Israeli finance minister Yuval Steinitz said if Sweden would not condemn the story, Israel might cancel a visit by the Swedish foreign minister planned for September. |
Later, the spokesman for the Israeli Foreign Ministry Yigal Palmor said: "There is no question of cancelling or delaying this visit, but it is clear that this incident will cast a worrying shadow over meetings if it is not resolved." | |
An online petition calling for a boycott of Swedish companies, including Ikea, has been signed by hundreds of Israelis, the Haaretz newspaper has reported. | |
The story - in Sweden's top-selling daily newspaper - claimed Israeli soldiers kidnapped Palestinian youths and returned their dismembered bodies a few days later. | The story - in Sweden's top-selling daily newspaper - claimed Israeli soldiers kidnapped Palestinian youths and returned their dismembered bodies a few days later. |
The tabloid claimed organs were then sold for transplant - with incidents dating back to 1992. | The tabloid claimed organs were then sold for transplant - with incidents dating back to 1992. |
Sweden's ambassador to Israel called the article "shocking and appalling". | Sweden's ambassador to Israel called the article "shocking and appalling". |
But Sweden's foreign minister Carl Bildt wrote he would not condemn the article because freedom of expression is part of the Swedish constitution. | But Sweden's foreign minister Carl Bildt wrote he would not condemn the article because freedom of expression is part of the Swedish constitution. |
Mr Bildt added that condemnation of anti-Semitism is "the only issue on which there has ever been complete unity in the Swedish parliament". | Mr Bildt added that condemnation of anti-Semitism is "the only issue on which there has ever been complete unity in the Swedish parliament". |
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