Sweden: Anger grows over Swedish government funding for anti-Zionist groups amid diplomatic row

An antisemitic cartoon published  by Badil, a
Palestinian NGO that receives taxpayer funds
from the Swedish government.  Image: Badil

Professor Gerald Steinberg, the president of NGO Monitor, told The Algemeiner that the Swedish intention to recognize a Palestinian state was “grandstanding” and “hypocritical.”

“For years, governments in Stockholm have irresponsibly and immorally channeled tax revenues to some of the most anti-peace organizations and activities,” Steinberg said.

Steinberg was particularly critical of Diakonia which, he said, provides funding for pro-BDS Palestinian groups like Badil and Sabeel, which “reject the existence of a Jewish state and engage in antisemitic activities.” Steinberg pointed to a cartoon on the Badil wesbite which shows a visibly orthodox Jew holding a pitchfork drenched in blood and standing on top of a large stone weighing down a female Palestinian refugee and her dead child. “If the Swedish Prime Minister is actually interested in peace, which requires an end to incitement, the first step would be halt this anti-peace NGO funding,” Steinberg said.

Sweden has frequently been accused of not doing enough to combat antisemitism at home while funding radical anti-Israel activism abroad. Earlier today, The Algemeiner reported that Adrian Kaba, who represents Lofven’s Social Democratic Party of Sweden on the Malmö City Council and the regional government, accused “the Israeli Mossad” of “training” the Islamic State terrorist group in a Facebook post in July.

More: The Algemeiner