As Israeli Foreign minister speaks out against Sweden’s decision to recognize Palestinian state. Liberman says ‘issues more complex than Ikea furniture’. He said the only way to come to a peace agreement with the Palestinians is through negotiations, and steps like this only reinforce the unrealistic demands of the Palestinians.
“The Swedish government should understand that Middle East relations are more complex than a piece of self-assembled IKEA furniture, and the matter should be handled with responsibility and sensitivity” Lieberman said, as he announced that Israel would be pulling its ambassador from Stockholm.
But Swedish counterpart Margot Wallstrom was unmoved by Lieberman’s analogy.
“I will be happy to send Israel FM Lieberman an IKEA flat pack to assemble,” she said. “He’ll see it requires a partner, cooperation and a good manual.”
The Swedish government officially recognized the state of Palestine on Thursday, the first Western European country to do so, reflecting growing international exasperation over the moribund Israeli-Palestinian peace process.
Swedish Foreign Minister Margot Wallstrom told reporters her government hoped it would bring a new dynamic to the situation.
“Our decision comes at a critical time because over the last year we have seen how the peace talks have stalled, how decisions over new settlements on occupied Palestinian land have complicated a two-state solution and how violence has returned to Gaza,” she said.
