A general election Sunday in Sweden has the potential to turn the country’s approach to Israel and Palestine upside down as the Sweden Democrats seek to have Stockholm revoke recognition of a Palestinian state.
In 2014, Sweden was the first European Union member country to extend recognition to Palestine, which has been a source of friction with Israel. This has remained a sensitive matter politically, with the two major political parties in Sweden increasingly staking out opposite stances on the Gaza war.
The centre-left bloc was leading, with 50.3% support, compared to 47.9% for the governing right-wing bloc, according to a poll released by Novus on Monday. The right wing is made up of the Moderates, Christian Democrats and Liberals and is supported by the Sweden Democrats, and the opposition is the Social Democrats, Left Party and Greens with the Centre Party being a possible addition.
If the four right-wing parties win, they could form a government, Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson and Sweden Democrats leader Jimmie Åkesson have said. The Sweden Democrats also are expected to ask for senior positions in government.
If a right-wing government is elected, that could usher in a more pronounced turn toward Israel. Kristersson’s government has refused to characterize Israel’s actions in Gaza as genocide and has not signed on to South Africa’s lawsuit against Israel at the ICJ.
The government has cut funding to the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, which it accused of having some staff members involved in attacks on October 7, 2023. Sweden resumed funding later on, eventually ending its core funding in December 2024. The government has also provided approximately $83 million for humanitarian aid to Gaza and the region in 2026, with the exception of UNRWA. It has also backed EU efforts against Israeli settlements and wanted additional limitations on settlement products.
The Sweden Democrats have taken a firmer pro-Israel stance. Åkesson, who in January pledged to attempt to withdraw Sweden’s recognition of Palestine if his party were to form a government, stated that the party wanted the embassy relocated to occupied Jerusalem, for the cancellation of the Swedish aid to Palestinians and for UNRWA to be dismantled.
The left wing parties, on the other hand, would like to be more stringent against Israel. Left Party and Greens want Sweden’s ICJ membership in South Africa’s genocide case to be renewed, and they want Sweden involved in ICJ case.
Left Party member Anfal Mahdi stated that if a leftist government came to power, it would take more serious measures like boycotting Israeli trade, providing more funds for UNRWA and supporting the work of the International Criminal Court. The Social Democrats, by contrast, have been more cautious, calling instead for “selective sanctions” against Israeli officials and extreme settlers.
The October 7 attacks were condemned by all major Swedish parties which have stated that Hamas should not be part of any future Palestinian government.
The election will be close-fought, and the outcome will decide whether or not Sweden will continue its policy of recognizing Palestine and remain as is, or be forced to take a much more pro-Israel stance.
