(Communicated by MFA Spokesperson's Bureau)

The Swedish ambassador to Israel, Mr. Carl Magnus Nesser, was urgently summoned and reprimanded this evening (Wednesday, 13 January 2016) at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Jerusalem, at the instruction of Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Netanyahu.  The Deputy Director General for European Affairs, Aviv Shiron, informed the ambassador of Israel's protest against the caustic remarks made by Swedish Foreign Minister Margot Wallstrom and of the anger felt by the government and the people of Israel at the foreign minister's distortion of the real situation here.

FM Wallstrom's statements reveal her biased and even hostile attitude towards Israel, and her lack of understanding of what is going on in the region. The Swedish foreign minister is apparently unaware of the difficult reality in which the citizens of Israel are exposed to the constant threat of murderous terrorist attacks.

In light of the Swedish foreign minister's damaging and baseless positions, Sweden has removed itself for the foreseeable future from any role, even the tiniest part of a role, relating to Israeli-Palestinian relations.