Israel Insists Sweden Apologizes

Israeli Swedish ties are going sour over a newspaper article. Sweden will not apologize for an article that Israelis claim is anti-semitic. The journalist who wrote it says it is part of a normal journalistic routine. Here are the details.

The Swedish government announced yesterday they will not apologize for a newspaper article that Israeli officials say evokes historic hatred of Jews in Europe. [Anders Jorle, Swedish Foreign Ministry]: "Both the Prime Minister (Fredrik Reinfeldt) and the Minister of Foreign Affairs (Carl Bildt) have claimed that there can not be an apology from the government concerning an article in a Swedish newspaper. If you have any aspects on what is published you have to turn to the newspaper or to the publisher." Sweden says press freedom means it cannot intervene in this kind of dispute over tabloid print. Last Monday Aftonbladet reprinted long-standing Palestinian allegations that the Israeli army may have taken organs for transplants from men who died in custody. Carl Bildt, the Minister of Swedish Foreign Affairs said last week his country opposed anti-Semitism but would not silence the media.   The journalist who wrote the article, Donald Bostrom, insists he told the story of both sides and denied it was anti-semitic propaganda. [Donald Bostrom, Journalist]: "Take them seriously, give them the answer. My article is just referring to what the Palestinian families said and what the IDF (Israeli Defence Forces), the Israeli Army spokesman said to me. I didn't have any opinion; I didn't take any stand in the article. I just said 'they said this, he said the opposite let's have a further investigation'. So it's just normal journalistic work and has nothing to do with anti-semitic propaganda." Asked why the story had caused such controversy now, Bostrom said it could be because of events in New Jersey in the United States where some Rabbis have been arrested in a corruption ring, allegedly involved in money laundering and illegal organ trade. On Sunday, Israel placed curbs on Swedish journalists as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu urged Sweden's government to condemn the newspaper article. Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman has dismissed Sweden's argument about press freedom as a "fig leaf" for inaction.

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[roth1c]

Haha who the hell are the Israelis calling the country that was one of the few safe havens for jews in Europe during WW2 anti-semitic? As a before this pro-Israeli Swede I feel offended and disgusted by the Israeli government who wants us to give up one of our founding stones in our society, freedom of press. The article really sucked.but it was not anti-semitic.

[equosia]

It's a pity the Israeli government even pressed forward with these requests for an apology.

This cheap tabloid got exactly what it was aiming at: publicity.

Very sorry to hear Swedish journalists have nothing better to do than deal in tabloids.

[FunnyAsARubberCrutch]

@roth1c Sweden, a safe HAVEN? I is an historical FACT that Swedes rounded up Jewish neighbors and handed them over to the Nazi's, so as not to have any damage done to property during searches...TRUE???

[ragatso666]

@1kkyu He did, and he was proven right after all obvously. That was not headlines

[000000AEA000000]

WHAT. THE. FUCK. ?

WHAT IS THIS CRAP? SERIOUSLY?

When does this morbid game of playing victim and hurt ever stop? Even if Bostrop would be wrong, why shall SWEDEN AS A COUNTRY APOLOGIZE?

This is as racist as it CAN GET. We are all individuals, we are ALL ALLOWED TO HAVE FREE SPEECH. And all responsible for our OWN deeds. A whole COUNTRY can never be held accountable for what ONE MAN says.

This is SICK. The whole fishing for apologies is absolutely unlegitimate.

[sayedeng100]

Israel is a terroristic state they killed innocent Egyptian soldiers across the borders with Egypt in Egyptian land with no permission to cross the borders last week and they even don't want to apologize to Egyptian people what worth apology -an opinion written in an article in a news paper or innocent Human beings killed with no mercy Judge by yourself on this terroristic state put yourself in the position of families who lost their dearest

[DarkBellatrix]

@Toadeater Talk for yourself! I am fully capable of talking on my own behalf.

The jews STOP cut your newborns, try and claim more mone of Germany who has already given you millions upon millions to buil a military force to make life hell for palestinians and most important of all:

STOP BELIEVING YOUR OF MORE WORTH THAN ANYONE ELSE UPON THIS EARTH!

We are born naked and equal. Now piss of.

[Carl9449]

Sweden Supports Arabs because they fear terrorism. They believe any lie that the propaganda Palestinian Artists will bring. If they have an "opinion" from the parents of Hamas Terrorists, why do they Publish it as a true fact?

[1kkyu]

This sounds like a case of horrible journalism. The writer of the article should have researched the Palestinian claims before publishing them.

[noibn2]

@Toadeater: You imbecile, the Israeli military has admitted that forensic pathologists have harvested Palestinian organs. What Donald Boström did is called REAL journalism, that's nothing to be ashmed of!

[Mrjaguarpaw1]

Guess what jewish respected religious authorities so called rabbis are doing??

Selling body parts..nice