Left Party leader photographed beside maps excluding Israel at party congress

Swedish public broadcaster SVT reports that Left Party leader Nooshi Dadgostar was photographed posing in front of maps of Palestine that do not include Israel at her party’s congress over the weekend.

The Left Party has long supported a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. However, at the congress, Dadgostar stood beside maps sold by the Palestinian National Federation—an invited exhibitor—where the state of Israel was omitted. The federation’s vice chair, Ziyad Moussa, told SVT he does not believe in Israel’s right to exist and considers the maps uncontroversial.

Experts interviewed by SVT noted that such maps, common as souvenirs in the Middle East, can be interpreted in different ways—either as an expression of Palestinian identity or as a call to eliminate Israel. Fredrik Meiton of the Swedish Institute of International Affairs and Anders Persson, a senior lecturer at Linnaeus University, both stated that the maps are difficult to reconcile with the two-state principle.

“It can be seen as problematic if this type of souvenir is sold at a Left Party event, as it raises questions about whether their view of the conflict denies one side’s right to exist,” Persson said.

When questioned by SVT, Dadgostar declined to comment on the maps, referring inquiries to the Palestinian National Federation. She also avoided further questions about the federation’s presence at the congress, stating only: “We support a two-state solution, as you know. But you must direct your questions to the exhibitors.”