Vredesduif met olijftak in snavel.

Steun minister Wallström!

18-1-2016 Swedish Foreign Minister Wallström is being shamelessly attacked by Israel for her principled stance on Palestinian rights. It's urgent to let Wallström know that citizens around the world are on her side when it comes to justice for the Palestinians. Please act by sending an e-mail to the Swedish embassy in your country (1).

 

As we witnessed over the past days Swedish Foreign Minister Wallström is being ruthlessly attacked (2) by Israeli leaders and their supporters (3). Why? Because she touched on the rights of the Palestinians. For Israel, that's a no-go. For Israel there is no such thing as 'Palestinian rights'. No surprise, as many Israeli leaders even deny the existence of Palestine and the Palestinian people.

 

The Swedes are now enduring the same inflammatory slander and sanctions as NGO's, Palestinian Members of Knesset or other critical voices from within Israel - to name just a few recent examples. All of them have been smeared as anti-Semites that support terrorism. And it works (4). Israel gets away with this aggressive 'Killing the messenger' tactics time and again, as it gets away with its extrajudicial killings of Palestinians - the Israeli crime Wallström demands to be investigated.

 

Wallström is being blackened to derail her demand. That should be prevented. How? By making a huge point of it. By writing and blogging. By sending out a strong message in support of the Swedish government. By demanding that our national politicians express solidarity with Wallström's legitimate and much-needed stance. By urging the media to address the sickening pattern of Israeli slander.

 

A good start is to send a supportive message to the Swedish embassy in your country (1), using the underneath text or writing your own. Consider copying your message to your national politicians, political parties or media - as a firm notice that Wallström has massive support when it comes to justice for the Palestinians.

 

Notes

(1) Swedish Embassy in The Hague: ambassaden.haag@gov.se

Swedish Embassies in other countries: http://www.swedenabroad.com/en-GB/Embassies/

(2) http://www.timesofisrael.com/swedish-officials-unwelcome-in-israel-deputy-fm-says/

(3) http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/206508#.VpuAAUsoWzZ

(4) http://www.timesofisrael.com/israel-bashing-fm-wallstrom-seen-becoming-a-problem-for-sweden/

 

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To the attention of Mrs. Margot Wallström,

Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Sweden

 

Dear Mrs. Wallström,

 

I have taken notice of your stance on the nessecity to investigate Israel's extrajudicial killings of Palestinians. I have also noted the shameful reactions of Israeli leaders and others. It's the ferocity and disgrace of these reactions that urge me to speak out in support of your remarks and integrity.

 

I support your position that Israel should be held accountable for what are in fact proven extrajudicial killings. Amnesty International and other organisations have provided plenty of evidence, as in the case of Hadeel al-Hashlamoun, the young Palestinian woman who was executed point blank by the Israeli army. Much of this evidence is available online, ranging from reports to video's and testimonies. They make clear that these killings are no exception, but part and parcel of the structural Israeli mistreatment of Palestinians.

 

Its not that we don't know about the Israeli atrocities. The problem is that we refuse to act on them. As a result the Palestinians pay the price and Israel goes unpunished - giving the country carte blanche to proceed, which is exactly what we are witnessing. This is why I applaud your principled stance. If no one acts, the remains of the Palestinian society will be destroyed before our eyes.

 

I regret that the Foreign Minister of my own country has not acted, and has not expressed his support for Sweden. Please be informed that I will urge him to correct these failures.

 

Sincerely,

name, city, country

18-1-2016