Israel denounces Swedish FM over 'extrajudicial executions'

Israel has denounced remarks by Swedish Foreign Minister Margot Wallström, saying she accused it of carrying out "extrajudicial executions" in response to attacks by knife-wielding Palestinians.

In Stockholm Friday, speaking to members of parliament, Wallström condemned such attacks but also criticized Israel's response.

Since Oct. 1, almost daily assaults, clashes between Palestinians and Israeli soldiers and violence between Palestinians and Israeli settlers have killed 109 Palestinians including an Israeli Arab, 17 Israelis, an American and an Eritrean, according to an AFP count.

"I condemn the knife attacks. I think they are horrendous and they mustn't be allowed to happen, and Israel always has the right to defend itself, to ensure its security," Wallström told the Swedish MPs.

"And likewise, the response must not be of the kind – and this is what I say in other situations where the response is such that it results in extrajudicial executions or is disproportionate in that the number of people killed on that side exceeds the original number of deaths many times over."

Emmanuel Nahshon, a spokesman for Israel's foreign ministry, said late Friday: "The declaration is scandalous, untruthful, impudent and detached from reality.

"The foreign minister suggests that Israeli citizens offer up their necks to the murderers looking to stab them," he said.

"In Israel, any person who commits a crime appears before court, including terrorists," Nahshon added.

On Saturday, a spokesman for Wallström denied Israel's accusation.

"The foreign minister did not say that Israel conducts 'extrajudicial executions'," he said.

"The foreign minister made a general statement about international law and the right to self-defense and the importance of proportionality and distinction."...
  AFP
dailystar.com.lb
5/12/15
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