This week, the uncertain global situation has continued to be the focus of the debate on global issues. The escalation in the conflicts between Israel, Palestine and now Hezbollah has been widely debated from different sides and angles, but even within the political parties the members do not agree on the way forward. Economic support for post-war Ukraine should be planned already now, a debater believes, while Russia's income should be cut off, among other things, through a chocolate boycott.
The vote in the UN General Assembly on September 18, when a majority of member states voted in favor of a resolution calling for Israel to end its occupation of Palestinian land, has stirred emotions.
But even within the political parties, last week's debaters do not seem to agree on how Sweden should approach developments in the Middle East. IN Svenska Dagbladet criticize the social democratic representatives Morgan Johansson and Evin Incir the government's decision to cancel Sweden's vote in the UN General Assembly.
- The government's selective approach to international law risks negatively affecting trust in Sweden's foreign policy and undermines Sweden's reputation globally, write Johansson and Incir.
However, full agreement does not seem to prevail within the Social Democrats. IN same newspaper replies Kristofer Åberg, chairman of Social Democratic Friends of Israel, that the decision to withdraw Sweden's vote in the UN should not be seen as a right/left question and refers to the fact that many other countries with social democratic leadership did not vote. In his opinion, a yes to the resolution would have required more balanced writing.
- The resolution thus makes it easier for Hamas, does not take into account Israel's security needs (on the contrary, it is said that Israel has no right to defend itself) - and makes it more difficult for a two-state solution, writes Åberg.
I Today's ETC the Green Party's Alice Bah Kuhnke, Isabella Lövin and Jacob Risberg in turn react to the new Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard's (M) statement that the courts must decide whether Israel's response to the Hamas attack is proportionate. They remind that the International Court of Justice (ICJ) has already ruled on the matter and gives five concrete proposals on how Malmer Stenegard pressures Israel towards a peaceful solution.
- Demand that the EU's association agreement with Israel be paused. The agreement has a clause on human rights that Israel today violates, write the three environmentalist representatives.
The development in Lebanon
As the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah intensifies, Isobal Hadley-Kamptz recalls i Dagens Nyheter about Hezbollah's history that includes sexual violence, trafficking and anti-democratic tendencies. The enemy of the enemy is not always a friend, on the contrary, many of those who are for the cause of Palestine are not great admirers of Hezbollah, she believes.
I Expressen Israel's ambassador to Sweden Ziv Nevo Kulman defends Israel's actions in Lebanon and refers to Hezbollah is a terrorist organization that has continuously attacked Israel since October 8, 2023, which is said to have driven about 70 Israelis from their homes.
- In the face of Hezbollah's attack, Israel is doing what any sovereign nation would do - protecting the safety of all its citizens, both Jews and Arabs, writes Ambassador Nevo Kulman.
In an unsigned leader i Dagens Nyheter the connections between Iran and Hezbollah are discussed, but also how Israel's attacks can lead to setbacks. When Israel's attacks in Lebanon lead to many more civilian casualties, the previously weak support for Hezbollah risks strengthening.
The future of Ukraine and Russia
With less than two months left until the election in the United States argues Today's News editorial that the result of the election in the USA will affect the war in Ukraine. They believe that a United States under Trump risks playing into Putin's hands.
- It is extremely unfortunate, and a huge success for Vladimir Putin, that Ukraine becomes part of the ongoing American and global culture war, they write.
Stefan Fölster looks further ahead in time and describes i Svenska Dagbladet what the time after the war between Russia and Ukraine might look like. Already now, a post-war strategy should be prepared and Ukraine's EU membership accelerated. While Russia should be subject to continued sanctions, Ukraine should be supported, he believes.
- After a peace, Ukraine will likely experience an economic boom, which will also significantly strengthen the West, writes Fölster.
Some who also discuss economic pressures against Russia are Håkan Gergils, economist, Uliana Gottlieb, researcher, and Marcus Hernhag, blogger in a debate article in Svenska Dagbladet. The fact that Mondelez still sells European-produced chocolate in Russia probably generates large tax revenues for the Russian treasury at the same time as the transparency surrounding the company's Russian revenues and tax payments decreases. They call for a boycott of Mondelez, manufacturer of, among other things, Marabou chocolate.
- On July 8 this year, Russia used a Kh-101 missile that injured Ukrainian children and killed adults at Ukraine's largest children's hospital, Okhmatdyt. With only the profit tax to the Russian treasury, Mondelez could finance at least five such deadly attacks, the debaters write.
Development in the Middle East
"Weak to put down Sweden's voice"
Morgan Johansson and Evin Incir, Social Democrats, Svenska Dagbladet
"Incitement against Israel complicates a two-state solution"
Kristofer Åberg, Social Democratic Friends of Israel, Svenska Dagbladet
Cowardly ducking for flagrant violations of international law
Alice Bah Kuhnke, Isabella Lövin and Jacob Risberg, the Green Party, ETC
Israel also defends Sweden's security
Ambassador Ziv Nevo Kulman, Embassy of Israel in Stockholm, Expressen
Sex slaves, drug trafficking and war crimes - this is Hezbollah
Isobel Hadley Kamptz, Dagens Nyheter
Israel's attacks may benefit fanatics and ayatollahs
The editorial staff, Dagens Nyheter
Russia and Ukraine
Right now it's simple - Democrats support Ukraine, Republicans support Trump
The editorial staff, Dagens Nyheter
"Continue to boycott Marabou"
Håkan Gergils, Uliana Gottlieb and Marcus Harnhag, Svenska Dagbladet
Think before peace in Ukraine
Stefan Fölster, Svenska Dagbladet
Iran's hacker attack on Sweden
"Sweden must dare to fight back against Iran"
David Bergman, lieutenant colonel,
Patrik Fältström, Netnod,
Anders Löfberg, retired brigadier general,
Patrik Oksanen, think tank Frivärld,
Johan Wiktorin, Intil,
Dagens Nyheter
Iran's attacks on us must have consequences
Anders Lindberg, Aftonbladet
Politics in the world
The enemies of the free world are purposefully cooperating - the West must respond
The editorial staff, Dagens Nyheter
A fateful month until Georgia chooses a path
Principal, Sydsvenskan
The future of aid
Aid: Will it be better with fewer intermediaries?
Göran Holmqvist, former unit manager Sida, Global Bar
Is there something in the text that is not correct? Contact us at opinion@fuf.se