Defying the policy of the Knesset's Department of Foreign Relations, which recommended that Knesset members do not meet delegation members of the far-Right Sweden Democrats, who landed in Israel last month, they actually found a sympathetic ear in the Likud party. The Swedish party is making great efforts to dissociate itself from its antisemitic fascist past, and despite an official boycott imposed on it by Israel, the unusual meeting was initiated by Likud MK Amit Halevi.
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In an attempt to present concrete actions alongside the promises, after meeting with Halevi the Sweden Democrats lawmakers drafted a binding document of principles renouncing their past, hoping to pave the way for official relations and recognition.
During the week, Halevi is expected to present the document to Foreign Minister Eli Cohen and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in order to create a historic move that will lead to the end of the Israeli boycott by the party. In the document that will be presented to the two, and which reached Israel Hayom, Israel has been given significant support that it has never received in the past from any European country, including recognition of the importance of the war against Iran, opposition to the Palestinian Authority's support for terrorism, etc. In fact, this is a 180-degree transformation compared to the position of the leftist parties in Europe, which over the years tended to favor Palestinian interests over Israel's security.
Among others, the document states that "the party has undergone a fundamental and profound change in recent decades. The few founders and original participants who held antisemitic views were removed from the party's ranks years ago."
In addition, "the party supports Jewish life and fights any manifestation of antisemitism in Sweden, Europe and elsewhere. The party supports the battle against terrorism and manifestations of anti-Israeli behavior by Iran, the Palestinian Authority, Hezbollah and others."
Recognizing Jerusalem as the capital of Israel
The document also states that the party demands that Sweden recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and transfer its ambassadors to Jerusalem, as well as calling for the addition of Hezbollah in its entirety to the list of the European Union's terrorist organizations. The strategic importance of the document lies in the fact that it is the continuation of the momentum to change Sweden's long-standing hostile attitude towards Israel and the pro-Palestinian attitude taken by its leaders.
"I am here to influence and promote the welfare of the State of Israel," Halevi said when I asked why he met with his Swedish counterparts. According to Halevi, "The Swedish Democrats is a large political movement in an important European country, so I agreed. During our conversation I did not hesitate to bring up the rumors talked about them. They took matters seriously and made it clear that bad people who founded the party decades ago had been removed from it a long time ago, and that they firmly oppose any display of antisemitism."
Halevi noted that he is planning to try and recruit Netanyahu and Cohen to his efforts this week and that an official discussion on the issue is planned to take place in the coming days. Regarding the principles formulated in the document presented by the Swedish, he says: "I asked that they issue a document of principles that publicly elucidates the party's position today. They agreed and sent me a detailed document, which underscores the renouncing any kind of racism and antisemitism, loyalty to national and liberal values, and a commitment to stand by Israel, as they have been doing for a long time. I regard this document as an important model in the relationship between Israel and the national movements, which are reviving themselves in Europe and around the world and are striving to continue on the right moral path."
A cool welcome in Israel
This writer also met the members of the right-wing party's delegation with a sense of great suspicion. For two hours they went out of their way to prove the transformation the party had undergone. For example, the document they presented to me describes how the party forced the Swedish government to cut 40% of the budget for Palestinian organizations.
"Blame us for what we say and do today, and not for the past," requested Richard Jomshof, chairman of the Swedish Parliament's Committee on Justice, who said: "When I was in school, I learned that both the Left and Right hate Israel. When I grew up, I learned that David established Israel 3,000 years ago; this makes it clear to me that this is the homeland of the Jewish people. I saw what you have built here in 75 years and I began to love Israel. After the Holocaust, it became clear that the Jews needed a state." Jomshof was also joined by Charlie Weimers, head of the delegation. "We hate the Nazis," he says and describes how they removed Nazi activists who are connected to them. "We feel culturally close to the nation-state of Israel and are impressed that Israel built itself up from nothing – compared to Gaza, which could have built itself, but they chose "shit." It's easy to choose which side to be on in this situation."
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