{"id":3734,"date":"2015-02-11T12:29:18","date_gmt":"2015-02-11T12:29:18","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/english.thesunrisetoday.com\/?p=3734"},"modified":"2015-02-11T12:29:18","modified_gmt":"2015-02-11T12:29:18","slug":"sweden-opens-palestinian-embassy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/english.thesunrisetoday.com\/index.php\/sweden-opens-palestinian-embassy\/","title":{"rendered":"Sweden Opens Palestinian Embassy"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Palestine\"<\/a>Sweden became the first Western European country on Tuesday evening to open a Palestinian embassy as Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas arrived in Stockholm.
\nAbbas, who is visiting the Nordic state for the first time since it became the first European country to recognize a \u201cState of Palestine\u201d in October, called on other countries to follow Sweden\u2019s lead.
\nHe said that further unilateral efforts by the Palestinians would help serve the future of peace talks, not replace them.
\nAbbas said he and fellow Palestinian leaders were \u201clooking forward\u201d to resuming negotiations with Israel, Palestinian WAFA news agency reported.
\n\u201cWe are extending our hands to a just peace based on the international legitimacy resolutions,\u201d he stated during a press conference with Swedish Prime Minister Stefan L\u00f6fven.
\n\u201cI am reaching out to Israel because we cannot achieve peace if we don\u2019t sit down for negotiations,\u201d Abbas added.
\nL\u00f6fven stated that now, with recognized statehood, the Palestinians would be held to new standards. \u201cAccording to our view, Palestine is from now on a state. Therefore our expectations from Palestine and its leaders are going to grow,\u201d he stated.
\nThe Swedish leader took the opportunity to announce a Krona 1.5 billion ($180 million) aid package to the Palestinians. The funding is to be given in installments through 2019. The hope is that the money will be used to advance human rights, gender equality and fight corruption.
\nL\u00f6fven called on Israel and the Palestinians to be \u201cconstructive\u201d and uphold good relations with one another. He said both sides must be \u201cready to compromise\u201d when it comes to peace.
\nThe announcement of Sweden\u2019s recognition of \u201cPalestine\u201d in October set off a firestorm of condemnation from Israel. Israel\u2019s Foreign Minister Avigdor Liberman and Swedish Foreign Minister Margot Wallstrom exchanged verbal jabs, with Liberman saying that the peace process was not as easy as building IKEA furniture.
\nSweden\u2019s recognition led Israel to withdraw its ambassador from Stolkholm temporarily. On Thursday, Israel said that Wallstrom, who was scheduled to visit the country, was not welcome for an official visit.
\nAccording to the PA, some 135 countries have recognized a \u201cState of Palestine,\u201d several of them EU members.<\/p>\n

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