Title: Sweden Considers Freezing Aid to Palestinian Territories Following EU’s Decision
Subtitle: Party Leaders Call for Review of Development Aid Amidst Concerns of Support Going to Destructive Forces
Date: [Date]
Several party leaders in Sweden are advocating for the country to stop or freeze aid to the Palestinian territories. This comes after the European Union (EU) announced on Monday that it would immediately freeze all development aid to the Palestinians, citing the need for a departure from “business as usual.” Last year, Sweden provided a total of SEK 453 million ($51 million) to the Palestinians, with the Swedish aid agency Sida accounting for the largest part at SEK 427 million. Other organizations such as the Folke Bernadotte Academy, the Prison and Probation Service, the Public Prosecutor’s Office, and the Agency for Community Protection and Preparedness also mediated a portion of the aid.
The Swedish aid to the Palestinians is divided into two parts: development aid and humanitarian aid. The Minister of State for Development, Johan Forssell, emphasized the necessity of reviewing development aid to ensure that it does not benefit destructive forces. In a post on social media platform X (formerly known as Twitter), Forssell emphasized the government’s commitment to ensuring that every penny of development aid is accounted for.
The EU’s decision to freeze development aid to the Palestinians amounts to just under 700 million euros ($823 million). In 2021, Sweden provided nearly SEK 300 million ($33 million) in development aid to the Palestinians. However, since then, the new government has decreased the level of aid, with only approximately SEK 110 million ($12 million) distributed so far this year.
Sida, the Swedish aid agency, stated that the development aid is allocated to both Gaza and the West Bank, with the largest portion going to civil society organizations and multilateral organizations such as various UN agencies. These organizations work towards promoting democratic development, human rights, equality, and anti-corruption efforts. A smaller percentage, less than 1 percent, is reported to be directly provided to the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank, specifically for targeted program support to the Palestinian Environmental Authority.
Critics of the aid to the Palestinian territories, including members of political parties KD and L, have previously raised concerns regarding its potential support of “terrorism, hate propaganda, and corruption.” However, Sida affirms that undemocratic organizations do not receive any support, and they conduct thorough follow-up to ensure aid effectiveness.
The Palestinian president and Fatah leader, Mahmoud Abbas, has not yet disassociated himself from the recent Hamas attack. This lack of response extends to one of the organizations that receives support from Sweden, Al Haq. In a recent statement, Al Haq criticized Israel’s counter-attacks resulting in civilian casualties but failed to mention the Hamas attack or acknowledge the loss of Israeli lives.
Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson emphasized that no Swedish tax money should be allocated to anything associated with terrorist activities. He stated that if any such allocation exists, it must be immediately terminated.
Sweden’s aid to the Palestinian territories in recent years is as follows:
– 2023: Total SEK 225 million (until September 7), of which SEK 221.5 million is from Sida (development aid: SEK 110 million, humanitarian aid: SEK 111.5 million).
– 2022: Total SEK 453 million, of which SEK 427.3 million is from Sida (development aid: SEK 298.1 million, humanitarian aid: SEK 129.2 million).
– 2021: Total SEK 604.2 million, of which SEK 576.8 million is from Sida (development aid: SEK 368.8 million, humanitarian aid: SEK 208 million).
It is important to note that aid to the Palestinian territories constitutes around 1 percent of Sweden’s total aid budget.
Source: OpenAid
In light of the EU’s decision and the growing concerns surrounding the allocation of aid, Sweden is now contemplating its next steps in providing assistance to the Palestinian territories. The debate surrounding the effectiveness and impact of aid funding continues, with Swedish party leaders emphasizing the need for transparency and accountability in ensuring that aid reaches its intended recipients and serves its intended purposes.