Left Party calls for Swedish government to increase pressure on Israel during parliamentary debate

During Friday’s parliamentary debate regarding the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, the Left Party initiated a call for the Swedish government to exert greater pressure on Israel. Håkan Svenneling, the party’s foreign policy spokesperson, asserted that after the deaths of key leaders within Hamas and Hezbollah, a new situation has emerged. “The far-right genocide under Netanyahu must be stopped,” he stated during the discussion.

The Social Democrats also expressed strong criticism of the government’s response. Party spokesperson Morgan Johansson repeatedly accused the foreign minister of inaction. “Unfortunately, the Swedish government has been remarkably passive and silent. It is time to break this silence and take action,” Johansson stated. The opposition’s unified demands include urging Sweden to push for the designation of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard as a terrorist organization and advocating that the EU suspend its trade agreement with Israel until the country complies with international law.

In response, Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard defended the government’s actions, noting that Sweden has increased humanitarian aid by over half a billion since the conflict erupted. “We are continuously advocating for humanitarian access, doing everything within our power to alleviate the situation,” she said after the debate.

The issue of antisemitism within the Left Party was also brought to light. Following the decision of the Jewish Central Council not to invite the Left Party to its memorial events, the party’s leadership expelled Kristofer Lundberg for failing to distance himself from the terrorist-designated Palestinian group PFLP. Malmer Stenergard highlighted that the party must address antisemitism internally to maintain credibility.

In contrast, Svenneling insisted that the Left Party is clear in its stance against antisemitism, noting that they have excluded individuals due to their statements.