World Jewish News

Press reports: Netanyahu refused to meet with Swedish Prime Minister in New York

Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu has refused a request from his Swedish counterpart Stefan Löfven to meet at the United Nations General Assembly in New York because Sweden’s recognition of a Palestinian state , the Israeli media reported.

It is the second year in a row that Netanyahu has turned down the Swedish Prime Minister’s invitation for a meeting. According to Israel’s Channel 2, the request was rejected as “not possible.’’

Relations between Israel and Sweden have been rather tense since the decision of the Swedish Prime Minister to recognize a Palestinian state shortly after his election in 2014.

Sweden was the first European member to do so.

Israel also protested comments made by Swedish Foreign Minister Margot Wallstrom when she linked Palestinian frustration to the November 2015 terror attacks in Paris by the Islamic State.

The report said while in New York for the UN General Assembly,

Netanyahu is in New York to hold diplomatics meetings on the sidelines of the annual UN General Assembly. He is expected to meet with Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Brazilian President Michel Temer, Panama’s President Juan Carlos Varela and Rwandan President Paul Kagame.

He will address the General Assembly and also meet with US President Donald Trump.

EJP