Wednesday, August 19, 2009

How Do You Say "Blood Libel" in Swedish?

An article in the Swedish newspaper Aftonbladet accuses Israeli soldiers of abducting and killing Palestinians to steal body parts. The Swedish Embassy in Tel Aviv has responded in its Website to this article as follows:

Aug 19 2009

Media allegations on organ trafficking

On 17 August the Swedish daily Aftonbladet published an article on alleged organ trafficking in Israel. It related, inter alia, claims from individual Palestinians that organs had been stolen from captured Palestinians. The given sources, and a photograph of a dead Palestinian man, pertain to an incident in 1992.

The article in the Swedish newspaper Aftonbladet is as shocking and appalling to us Swedes, as it is to Israeli citizens. We share the dismay expressed by Israeli government representatives, media and the Israeli public. This Embassy cannot but clearly distance itself from it.

Just as in Israel, freedom of the press prevails in Sweden. However, freedom of the press and freedom of expression are freedoms which carry a certain responsibility. It falls on the editor-in-chief of any given newspaper.

Elisabet Borsiin Bonnier
Ambassador

I called the Swedish Embassy and told them that this article went beyond "shocking and appalling" and constituted a blood libel reminiscent of the Nazi-era. In addition, I asked whether the Swedish Embassy had made their opinion known to Aftonbladet. The answer:

"No."


I sent an e-mail to the Swedish Embassy asking to speak directly with the Swedish ambassador to Israel. Response:

"I regret to tell you that the Ambassador will not be in a position to discuss this matter with you, but kindly wishes to refer you to her statement this morning."

And so such matters are handled in diplomatic "circles".

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