Relationship dossier
Israel
Sweden
Relationship assessment
Political disagreement over Palestine and Israeli policy shapes a relationship with some areas of engagement.
Israel toward Sweden
-15After Sweden recognized Palestine in 2014, Israel recalled its ambassador from Sweden in protest, reflecting a concrete diplomatic dispute. The scope of other Israeli government cooperation with Sweden is unclear.
Sweden toward Israel
-20Sweden recognized Palestine in 2014 and has criticized Israeli policies toward Palestinians, including settlement activity and military conduct. The Swedish government has also condemned Hamas and affirmed Israel’s right to defend itself.
Overall relationship
-15A recurring political divide over Palestinian statehood and Israeli policy is a major feature of the relationship. Sweden’s recognition of Palestine prompted an Israeli diplomatic protest, while Sweden’s condemnation of Hamas and recognition of Israel’s right to defend itself show that the relationship is not defined solely by opposition.
How to read these scores
Scores are rough judgments, not objective measurements or current verification. Directional scores describe government policy and conduct, not public opinion. The overall score is an independent estimate, never an average.
- −100
- Extreme sustained hostility
- −50
- Substantially adversarial
- 0
- Mixed or neutral, supported by knowledge
- +50
- Substantially cooperative
- +100
- Exceptionally close sustained partnership
“Not assessed” means there is no recorded score. Pair existence makes no claim about diplomatic recognition or established relations.
Relationship context
Overview
Relations have been affected by Sweden’s recognition of Palestine in 2014 and subsequent differences over Israeli policy toward Palestinians. Sweden has also condemned Hamas and recognized Israel’s right to defend itself, while criticizing Israeli actions and supporting humanitarian assistance for Palestinians. These positions point to recurring political friction alongside elements of engagement.
Areas of tension
- Sweden’s recognition of Palestine in 2014
- Swedish criticism of Israeli settlement policy and military conduct
Key developments
Sweden recognized Palestine as a state; Israel recalled its ambassador in protest.
Major uncertainties
- The scope of practical bilateral cooperation beyond political engagement is unclear.
- The extent to which recent Swedish and Israeli policy statements have affected ongoing bilateral cooperation is unclear.