Week 45: Hot debates about the Israel-Palestine conflict and the US presidential election

During the week, various aspects of the conflict between Israel and Palestine have dominated the debate pages, including criticism of the Swedish government's actions. Photo: Brahim Guedich/Wikimedia Commons.

Of: Elianne Kjellman

In the past week, several aspects of the war have i MEllanöster and Sweden's reactions to the conflict have been discussed from different points of view. The American presidential election has also sparked debate, with some pointing out that Sweden and Europe must take greater responsibility for their own security in the future. 

November 11, 2024, Current debate

Ten years since the recognition of Palestine, COP16 meeting and support for Ukraine and Georgia

Former Foreign Minister Margot Wallström answers questions after a meeting in 2016. The fact that it has been 10 years since the Stefan Lövfen government recognized Palestine has been the subject of debate this week. Photo: Anna Palmehag/News Øresund.

Of: Agnes Fältman

Exactly ten years ago, Sweden recognized Palestine as an independent state, which has been debated this past week. Sweden's Climate and Environment Minister Romina Pourmokhtari's presence at the UN summit on biodiversity in Colombia is criticized, at the same time as voices are raised against Russia's war in Ukraine and the influence on the election in Georgia. 

November 4, 2024, Current debate

Week 21: Arrest warrants against Hamas and Israel's leaders are both welcomed and criticized

The announcement that the ICC's chief prosecutor wants to issue an arrest warrant against leading men from both Israel and Hamas has sparked reactions on Swedish opinion pages over the past week. Pictured (left): Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Pictured (right): Hamas supreme leader Yahya Sinwar. Source: Flickr.

Of: Fatima Shek Behi

Last week, the chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC), Karim Khan, announced that he wants to issue a arrest warrant against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the country's defense minister, as well as three senior Hamas leaders. The message has been both welcomed and criticized on Swedish debate and editorial pages.  

May 27, 2024, Current debate

Week 19: Debaters disagree about the protests against Israel's participation in Eurovision

Several of last week's opinion texts focused on the demonstrations in Malmö against Israel's participation in the Eurovision song contest. Photo: Eko. Source: Flickr.

Of: Elianne Kjellman

Israel's participation in Eurovision song cuntest induced extensive protester i the host city Malmo during last week. On Swedish opinion pages have dbattlers discussed about demonstrants feed antisemitism - or if they promote fred. 

May 13, 2024, Current debate

Week 18: Debaters believe declining support for Biden after pro-Palestinian student protests

Several writers believe that support for Joe Biden may be declining because of the pro-Palestinian student protests at American universities. Pictured: Anti-Israel protests in Washington DC, 2017. Photo: Ted Eytan. Source: Flickr.

Of: Rania Yassin

The pro-Palestinian protesterwell, like has emerged at several universities in the United States, was subject to debate during last week. Several people believe that the protests may disadvantage US President Joe Biden ahead of the upcoming election in the country.  

May 8, 2024, Current debate

Week 11: Debaters call on Israel to take responsibility for famine in Gaza

During the past week, several debaters have written about the famine in Gaza. Photo: Wafa. Source: Wikimedia commons.

Of: The Chancellery

The people of Gaza are starving and Israel must take responsibility for it, several write debaters. Greta Thunberg's climate demonstration outside the Riksdag has also been the subject of debate during the past week.

March 18, 2024, Current debate

International court decision against Israel: "Has been ignored"

Several actors believe that Israel is not complying with the International Court of Justice's order to protect the Palestinian population. At the same time, the court relies on the willingness of states to comply with the decisions. Photo: Saleh Najm and Anas Sharif. Source: Wikimedia commons.

Of: Rania Yassin

Earlier this year accused South Africa Israel for genocide in the UN's highest court, the International Court of Justice (ICJ). The court has decided that Israel must do everything in its power to protect the Palestinian population. Men The ICJ relies on states' willingness to comply with decisions, and many civil society organizations believe that Israel has not lived up to this.  

March 18, 2024, Development magazine explains

Week 9: Debaters want Sweden to advocate disarmament - even as a NATO member

On Swedish opinion pages during the past week, most debaters were positive that Sweden's long application process to NATO seems to be coming to an end. Pictured: Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson (M) (left) next to NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg (right). Photo: NATO. Source: Flickr.

Of: Benjamin Frisk

On February 26, Hungary's parliament voted yes to Swedengiven NATO membership, and now is that only formalities left before Sweden becomes a full member of the military alliance. This was the focus of the debate and leader pages during the past week, and most of them debaters were positive about Sweden's move towards NATO. Fclay underlined However, the importance of continuing to be a voice for peace and limitation of nuclear weapons. Aid to UNRWA, the UN aid organization for Palestinian refugees, also continued to be debated. 

March 4, 2024, Current debate

Week 6: Artists call for Israel to be excluded from Eurovision

Over 1 artists - including Eric Saade, Robyn and Timbuktu - want to exclude Israel from Eurovision, citing the country's war in Gaza. But the artists' appeal has drawn criticism on, among other things, Dagens Nyheter's editorial page. Photo (left): WAfa/APAimages. Source: Wikimedia commons. Photo (right): AnnCatrin Blyckerts. Source: Wikimedia commons.

Of: Ina Carlsson and Fleur Riller Lendemar

As the European music competition Eurovision song contest approaches, voices around the world have been raised calling for Israel to be removed from the contest - due to the war in Gaza. In a debate article, over 1 artists call the television union EBU for double standards, and Israel's participation in Eurovision for a "trivialization" of violations of international law. Dagens Nyheter's editorial board, on the other hand, believes that it is not hypocritical at all to want to boycott Russia but let Israel into the music competition.

February 12, 2024, Current debate

Week 5: Debaters disagree on the withdrawn aid to UNRWA

Is it right or wrong for Sweden to stop humanitarian aid to UNRWA? This has been discussed by several debaters over the past week. Photo on the left: UNIS Vienna. Pictured: Philippe Lazzarini, Commissioner-General UNRWA. Source: Flickr. Photo (right): Axel Öberg. Pictured: Sweden's Minister for Aid and Foreign Trade Johan Forssell (M). Source: Flickr.

Of: Benjamin Frisk and Fatima Shek Behi

During the past week, several countries, including Sweden and the Swedish aid agency Sida, stopped humanitarian aid to the UN aid organization for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA. The background is that 12 employees at UNRWA suspected of involvement in Hamas attack on Israel on October 7. But Swedish debaters have disagreed on whether it is right or wrong to withdraw support for UNRWA.  

February 5, 2024, Current debate