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https://nordictimes.com/the-nordics/sweden/israel-sweden-democrats-must-apologise-for-the-holocaust/

Sweden

Israel: Sweden Democrats must apologise for the Holocaust

Published 12 November 2024
– By Editorial Staff
The picture shows SD's Alexander Christiansson kneeling in front of laughing Jewish settlers in May this year. On the right is Israel's ambassador to Sweden, Ziv Nevo Kulman.
Editorial Staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

Israel is now demanding that the Sweden Democrats (SD) apologise for the party’s ‘historical links to anti-Semitism and Holocaust denial’.

The demand was made by Israel’s ambassador to Sweden, Ziv Nevo Kulman, who believes that such an apology is an important gesture to promote reconciliation and a prerequisite for a more open dialogue between the Sweden Democrats and the Jewish state.

In an interview with Schibsted-owned Aftonbladet’s political editor Anders Lindberg, Israel’s ambassador Kulman clarifies that Tel Aviv’s official stance on the Sweden Democrats remains unchanged: the Israeli government will have no cooperation whatsoever with the anti-immigration Swedish party.

In the interview, the ambassador says that while the Sweden Democrats have repeatedly shown their support for Israel on issues related to the Middle East conflict, concerns remain about the party’s background.

According to Kulman, an official apology from the SD would show “a willingness to acknowledge historical mistakes”.

– Our policy towards far-right parties with Nazi roots has not changed, he says.

The Sweden Democrats have long worked to distance themselves from their alleged anti-Semitic history, and the party now has a number of representatives who are very vocal in their support for Israel and the Jewish diaspora at every opportunity.

This was particularly evident in May 2024, when the party’s Alexander Christiansson knelt down in front of a group of Jewish settlers at the annual Jerusalem Prayer Breakfast event.

“Must fight antisemitism”

The Israeli side stresses that its relations with the SD will remain reserved until an apology and concrete measures are taken.

– But (the SD) definitely needs to do a lot of soul-searching about its own past. They need to apologise for everything they did, to the victims of the Holocaust and to the memory of the Holocaust, and they definitely need to think about a future where they do more to fight anti-Semitism. It’s a long process, says Kulman.

Israel’s demands have provoked reactions in Swedish politics, not least from representatives of the Sweden Democrats themselves. The party’s MP, Josef Fransson, was highly critical in a post on X.

English translation of above tweet: But what is this nonsense? Is it the SD as a legal entity that should apologise for what a minority of members thought or did 30 years ago? Because if it is the legal entity that should apologise, it might be worth pointing out that there never was one…

Several opinion leaders have raised the question of whether a modern political party should have to answer for its history when the party has explicitly distanced itself from past positions and is actively working for a different agenda today.

The leadership of the Sweden Democrats has not yet responded directly to this demand, but the party has on several occasions emphasised its support for Israel and its wars in the region.

Editorial Staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

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https://nordictimes.com/the-nordics/sweden/public-outrage-as-climate-alarmists-scale-swedens-vasa-ship/

Sweden

Public outrage as climate alarmists scale Sweden’s Vasa ship

Published 17 April 2025
– By Editorial Staff
The fact that climate activists are targeting one of the country's most important cultural heritages provokes many.
Editorial Staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

On Wednesday morning, police were alerted that two activists from the group Återställ Våtmarker (Restore Wetlands) had climbed onto the 400-year-old national treasure, the Vasa ship, and tied themselves to its mast.

On social media, many have grown tired of the climate alarmists’ constant provocations and attention-seeking, and there are now calls for prison sentences – and even more old-fashioned forms of punishment.

The police confirm that around 10 a.m., two individuals jumped over an alarmed gate and climbed onto the restored ship inside the museum. They also put up a banner with the message “ban peat extraction” and delivered loud monologues on the same theme. A third activist reportedly filmed and photographed the incident but later left the scene.

The two men who were still on the ship when the police arrived have been arrested and are currently suspected of trespassing – but more criminal charges may be added in the future.

It is currently unclear whether the Vasa ship was damaged by the group’s approach, and staff will carry out a more thorough inspection during the day.

Helen Wahlgren, press officer for Restore Wetlands, says the Vasa Museum is an “excellent place to demonstrate” and likens the ship to a bog “which also needs to be soaked in order to be preserved”.

Calls for tougher penalties

However, most people are not as impressed and the Conservative Minister for Culture, Parisa Liljestrand, describes the Vasa ship as “one of the most important and beloved cultural heritages we have in Sweden”.

“It is also a very sensitive environment that is important for research and risks being damaged. I get downright angry at people who take the right to practice activism at the expense of our common cultural heritage”, she wrote in a comment to the tabloid Aftonbladet.

On social media, the tone is even harsher, with many users demanding that the activists be sentenced to prison – or even forced into penal labor for their actions.

“Now it’s time to bring out the heavy-handed response”, writes one of the many outraged voices, and another believes that it would be an appropriate punishment for the activists themselves to be forced to dig peat for a few years.

What almost everyone who commented on the incident has in common is that they are noticeably tired of the recurring actions of this kind and how the activists attack the artistic and cultural heritage of Swedes for their political purposes.

Many also express anger that the media and authorities “coddle” the culprits – and that their actions never seem to lead to any tangible or deterrent consequences.

Editorial Staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

https://nordictimes.com/the-nordics/sweden/former-swedish-commander-in-chief-e27-5-billion-for-the-military-is-not-enough/

Sweden

Former Swedish Commander-in-Chief: €27.5 billion for the military is not enough

Sweden-NATO-relationship

Published 16 April 2025
– By Editorial Staff
Johan Hederstedt believes that the real cost will be significantly more expensive than what has been presented so far.
Editorial Staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

The Nordic Times has previously highlighted how the Swedish government is borrowing SEK 300 billion (€27.5 billion) for “the biggest rearmament since the Cold War”.

However, former Swedish Commander-in-Chief Johan Hederstedt believes that this is far from enough and points out that NATO will require Sweden to contribute significantly more money than that.

The current initiative means that the Moderate-led government is borrowing about €4,600 per Swede of working age for military rearmament until 2035.

Analysts point out that future generations of Swedes will be forced to pay for the investment through higher taxes – and others suggest raising the retirement age to pay for the project.

Johan Hederstedt was commander-in-chief between 2000 and 2023, and although he praises the rearmament announcement, he believes that the real cost will be much more expensive than what has been presented so far.

– Adding SEK 300 billion to the defense budget is good, but it will not be enough. NATO will demand even more, he says.

“No time to waste”

Hederstedt believes that the war in Ukraine and the new US foreign policy under Donald Trump have led to increased uncertainty in Europe – but also strengthened cooperation between the continent’s countries.

– Europe needs to be united and I see several signs of this, not least the British Prime Minister taking the initiative. The EU is strong in that it is investing a huge amount of money in equipping the countries of Europe, which is positive, he continues.

He believes it is highly unlikely that Russia would pose a direct military threat to Sweden – but he nevertheless argues that it is important to “strengthen military, civilian and psychological defense” very quickly.

– We can’t wait; there’s no time to waste. Decisions and financial support need to come early, he asserts.

Instead, it is alleged Russian disinformation, influence campaigns and cyberattacks that threaten Sweden, according to the former commander-in-chief – who claims to be particularly worried about Swedish voters being influenced by pro-Russian messages.

– And that can be incredibly serious when they can influence not only the electoral system but also the people in terms of what to vote for, he says.

Double standards

Exactly how Russia is alleged to influence the Swedish election result is not clear, but according to the Swedish Psychological Defense Agency, it includes “manipulating the flow of information” and spreading misleading information “with the aim of influencing public opinion” or “disrupting and weakening society”.

For example, when Russian media and opinion leaders report critically or negatively on European establishment politicians and instead highlight nationalist or conservative alternatives such as Alternative for Germany, this is usually cited as an example of alleged Russian election interference.

Critics have long pointed out that the debate on foreign election interference is often conducted in a deliberately dishonest and alarmist manner – and that those who are appalled by the effects of Russian propaganda on the electorate simultaneously turn a blind eye to the influence of American media, lobby groups and think tanks or left-liberal international NGOs such as George Soros’ Open Society Foundations have had over Swedish politics for decades.

Editorial Staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

https://nordictimes.com/the-nordics/sweden/swedish-major-general-leave-the-ottawa-treaty-and-buy-anti-personnel-mines/

Sweden

Swedish Major General: “Leave the Ottawa Treaty and buy anti-personnel mines”

The new cold war

Published 16 April 2025
– By Editorial Staff
Karlis Neretnieks argues that today's anti-personnel mines cannot be compared to those that kill thousands of civilians every year.
Editorial Staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

Recently The Nordic Times highlighted how the defense ministers of Poland, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia announced that they intend to withdraw from the international convention banning the use of anti-personnel mines.

In early April, Finnish officials also confirmed that they are also preparing to withdraw from the Ottawa Treaty. Retired Swedish-Latvian Major General Karlis Neretnieks now wants Sweden to do the same and start buying “smart” anti-personnel mines.

– My opinion is clear. We should do what the Finns did, leave the Ottawa Agreement, and acquire anti-personnel mines, declares Neretnieks, who has also previously served as President of the Swedish National Defense College.

He explains that within the NATO military pact, there is a plan for the Swedish army to be able to move quickly to Finland and form joint defense forces with Finnish soldiers in the event of a possible Russian attack. In such a scenario, he argues, the armies of both countries must have similar rules of engagement.

– What should we do when Swedish commanders have to command Finnish units? Should a Swedish commander tell a Finnish commander that you are not allowed to use anti-personnel mines because you are under Swedish command? That’s not how it works in reality.

Kills thousands annually

Finland’s defense minister, Antti Häkkänen, insists that “mines are only for war” and “will not be scattered in the countryside“. However, over the years, anti-personnel mines have caused enormous civilian suffering – and in 2021 alone, an estimated 5,500 people were killed by them – many of them children.

Millions of undestroyed anti-personnel mines remain in former war zones around the world – and can detonate at any time when someone accidentally steps on them. This is also one of the primary reasons why some 160 countries around the world have committed to stop stockpiling, producing or using them.

However, Neretnieks argues that today’s modern anti-personnel mines can be turned on and off by remote control – and he emphasizes that some models stop working after a certain amount of time.

– The reason for removing the mines was that they were often left behind after the fighting was over. Then they were dangerous for children, farmers and anyone walking around the terrain… I’m advocating that we abandon the Ottawa agreement and get these anti-personnel mines with self-destruction, he continues.

“Were far too enthusiastic”

Sweden signed the convention in 1998, the year after it was drafted, but the major general says it was a big mistake.

– I think we were far too enthusiastic about a ban at the height of the discussions in 1996-1997. It was quite obvious that the Russians had no intention of signing anything like that, he states.

It should be noted that it is not only Russia that has chosen not to sign the convention. Major military powers such as the US and China have so far also refused to sign the Ottawa Treaty, as have Israel, India, Iran and both North and South Korea.

Editorial Staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

https://nordictimes.com/the-nordics/sweden/the-military-industrial-complex-excels/

Sweden

Comment: The military-industrial complex excels

The war in Ukraine

Jenny Piper

In the shadow of the war in Ukraine, the Swedish military-industrial complex is growing faster than ever. The question is no longer who benefits from the war – but why so few dare to talk about it.

Published 16 April 2025
– By Jenny Piper
Soldier with Saab Bofors Dynamics NLAW anti-tank missile.
{ $opinionDisclaimer }

A look at the ten largest Swedish companies on the Stockholm Stock Exchange reveals that the Wallenberg family is the majority owner in most of them, topping the list with its holding company Investor, valued at approximately SEK 860 billion (€77 billion).

newcomer to the list is the defense conglomerate Saab, which is now reaching new record levels on the stock exchange after rising over 2% and surpassing the historic industrial company Sandvik in market value.

It is interesting to note that before the outbreak of war in Ukraine in 2022, SAAB B had a market capitalization of just under SEK 30 billion (€2.7 billion) and that Sandvik SAND at the same time was worth about SEK 280 billion (€25 billion).

Three years and countless stock rallies later – this year alone the stock has surged nearly 90% – the picture looks completely different. Recently, the industrial giant was surpassed in market value, and as of today, Saab is worth SEK 239 billion compared to SEK 238 billion for Sandvik.

That people don’t understand that the entire Ukraine war, with ingredients like war-mongering, military buildup, “standing behind the Ukrainian people”, “fighting for freedom and democracy”, and so on, is merely a facade for the military-industrial complex – which uses Ukraine as a playground and exploits the Ukrainian people to the fullest to enrich itself without any interest in stopping the suffering it has helped create.

The Swedish establishment works in symbiosis with Brussels to bring us down, but the Swedish people are so incredibly indoctrinated that I fear there is no salvation for this country, where citizens willingly line up to praise the war profiteers and help contribute to the collapse instead of acting against the abuse of power.

 

Jenny Piper

All Jenny Piper's articles can be found on her blog.

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