Sweden will not boycott Israeli goods or break its relations to Israel, foreign minister Carl Bildt has said in a response to opposition demands in a parliamentary debate on the Israeli boarding of the Ship to Gaza aid convoy.
The Swedish parliament held a debate on the Ship to Gaza convoy on Monday at the request of the opposition Left Party. During the debate Carl Bildt reiterated that the Israeli attack on the convoy was in violation of international law and should thus be subject to an investigation conducted by the international community.
"The fact that Israel needs to investigate the incident itself is understandable, but it is not enough. It happened in international waters and it is thus necessary that the investigation is undertaken within a framework involving the UN," said Bildt.
The Left Party's foreign affairs spokesperson Hans Linde welcomed Carl Bildt's clear stand on the issue, but argued that tough talk was not enough.
"It is becoming increasingly apparent that condemnation alone is not enough, those responsible for this carnage must be brought to justice," he said.
